Question Number: 13315

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/11/2006

RE: FIFA Professional

Al of Sarnia, ON Canada asks...

After Zidane left the field of play when Sent Off, play was restarted with a drop ball. The most obvious restart would have been a DFK regardless of who spotted the VC (FIFA reported it was 4th Official). Could it have something to do with the sequence of events and communication of it breaking down: head butt, restart on French side of field for another incident, communication to referee and/or assistant of what 4th saw? Your thoughts on this?

On same note, do you have any thoughts on why the referee went to see Assistant Referee and not 4th Official (that would have been my inclination) who was said to have seen the incident?

Speaking of Fourth Officials. I have never served in this role, but have assisted at a few games where one was present. In none of those games were they given any useful instructions by the referee. If he/she notices a serious incident or other error (two yellow cards and no red), how is it effectively communicated to the referee (assuming no radios)? What other instructions need to be given by the referee to this official other than handle subs, record anything I record, and watch my back?

P.S. I loved the officiating in the QF and up. The referees clearly allowed players to communicate to them the amount of physical contact tolerated and all preferred to use the "I saw exactly what happened there, now get back up because I would hardly call that kind of contact at the U10 level so keep playing" and "yep it's a foul, but it did the opponents little good and because your teammate, who usually seems to know what he's doing with the ball, has it with clear control over there" advantage methods. The Argentinian referee has been criticized for allowing too much, resulting in two Sendings Off to two "quality" players for retaliation. If the ankles, shoulders, and ego hurt so much, a polite and quiet word with or reminder to the referee is much more effective than a gonad stomp or head butt, NO?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

First off the drop ball restart was probably given because the referee stopped play to deal with the injured player. You are correct that if play was stopped for the foul, the restart should have been a DFK. My hunch is the referee originally stopped play to deal with the injured player so he went with the drop ball. Next, who knows why he went over to the AR. It did not appear that he talked to him for a long time. Possibly to check on the spot of the drop ball or to get another persons opinion on the dirty play by Zidane. The duty of the 4th official is to keep record of the match, control teams in technical area, aid with substitution, etc. If the 4th official wants to communicate to the referee, he could go the near AR and tell him/her to get referees attention. Usually the referee will consult ARs before 4th official when it comes to fouls on the field.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I initially thought that play had already been stopped for another foul, the handling violation. But in retro spect, play was indeed stopped for the injured player so the correct restart was a dropped ball. Couldn't be a DFK as play had been stopped.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Al,
yes at times good players retaliate at inopportune times. Being fouled continuously does wear even if both sides partially accept some foul play as a standard of acceptable dynamic play.

The mechanics of going to the AR to verify a controversial decision is well known even if, "This sucks!" " Yes it does!" was all that was said. The 4th may have communicated directly via radio or may have told the AR verbally as well. The 4th usually keeps a record of the match with caution, expulsions, goals etc, control subs and technical area and points out any actions occurring out of sight of the referee. It is an extra set of eyes and any centre referee who fails to credit the 4th with more than having a siesta does not appreciate the benefit they are . The 4th generally gets the ARs attention who then flags but in cases of utmost importance you scream WAIT we need to talk I am having a heart attack. You get the attention of the referee and you make sure as 4th your information gets to the referee via the AR is fine only then can you say as 4th my duty is fulfilled Cheers