LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena believes it was obvious that players would end up in trouble during his team's first Super Clasico match of 2009 against Chivas USA. Speaking after the game, which saw three players ejected, Arena was critical of the officials: "They impacted the game. It was difficult for the players out there. Some bad tackles that went by; other plays that were called. It was a game that was difficult for the players to play.

"I think a lot of cards were merited. There was a play at the end of the first half that [Shavar] Thomas has a strangle hold on [Landon] Donovan. It would have been his second yellow card, and he was gone. It was too much of an act that I gave one to them, I'm going to give one to make it even. It was that become that right from the beginning. You knew it was going to happen. It was very obvious from the early part of the first half."