Note: The following column contains the opinions of the author, and does not necessarily represent the opinions of FifthOfficial.com as a whole.

Let me start simply: Major League Soccer has always been brimming with bad officiating. Not awful officiating. Not terrible or dreadful officiating – just bad officiating. But this season, one man managed to change that, inciting a disgust and contempt amongst fans that few others ever have.

I’ve no idea how one man can be so inexplicably inept and incapable of calling a fair (or somewhat fair, I’m being realistic now) match. I understand the difficult task referees face every week and that mistakes, even rather large ones, are inevitable. Mistakes are made, obscenities are shouted, and a few minutes later our torrents of verbal violence find another target - the mistakes, quickly forgotten.

Brian Hall’s run of absolute cock-ups however, is stuff of legend. All right, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit.

But when I look back at 2005 and remember the agony-turned-to-ecstasy of the Champions League Final, Chris Rolfe’s blinder against Milan, and many other warm, happy memories – my mind quickly wanders…there’s Brian Hall calling back Barrett’s goal…sorry, ‘there were four or five guys pushing’. There he is calling a bunch of nothing fouls before waving play on following a potentially-career-ending-horror-challenge-from-hell. Now, a handball in the box - clear penalty? Er, no.

Jesse Marsch bravely spoke out following the ‘phantom foul’ during Chicago’s match against D.C.. - He gives me a sick feeling in my stomach because I start to feel like he's got something against us. You look at our games that he did this year and it makes you sick – and was fined for his trouble.

The league responded to Mr. Hall’s spate of howlers by naming him Referee of the Year, much to the amusement and frustration of fans around the league, many of whom began to question their sanity.

Mr. Hall’s incompetence is perhaps only matched by that of AEG and its much-maligned decision to sack Peter Wilt - the greatest GM in American sporting history. (But that’s another piece for another day)

So here’s to 2006, because things can only get better! Well, not by the looks of our World Cup draw. But looking on the bright side, we are one year closer to Mr. Hall’s retirement. It warms my heart just thinking about it…

- Ian Blackwood