Question Number: 13371

Character, Attitude and Control 7/18/2006

RE: Competitive College

Sancho of Montreal, QC Canada asks...

Hi AskTheRef members!

We all know the Laws of the Game forbid showing cards to coaches and people on the bench other than players or subs. Yet from what I've seen (and done myself on a few occasions), it's certainly permissible to caution or expel coaches without actually showing them the card, and this caution or expulsion appears on the game sheet or match report just as it would for a player.

A couple of questions about this:
- Does this power extend to other non-playing bench personnel, or just coaches?
- What happens if a coach is being cautioned (and thus no yellow card can be shown to communicate this fact), but this person doesn't speak the same language as the referee (for example in an international competition such as the World Cup), How does the referee communicate the caution to the offender? Expulsion is pretty easy to indicate of course... but is there an accepted non-verbal gesture that lets the person know they've been cautioned? (I find this a bit ironic either way, because cards were developed to transcend this difficulty in the first place.)

Thanks for your insight!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Actually there is no "caution", in the sense of a like action for a player, substitute or substituted player, afforded a member of the technical staff mentioned in the Laws of the Game. They are permitted to remain in the technical area so long as they behave responsibly. No language skills are necessary, he either stays in the technical area or goes.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Correct, no cards are to be shown. Warn once (equivalent to a yellow card), and then he/she gets expelled.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Everyone in the technical area is under the referees control and may be dismissed or sent off for bad behavior. You are correct, only players and substitutes may be shown cards. How do you warn a coach that doesn't speak your language? There are probably 50 or so gestures understood the world over that mean "knock it off". As far as warning goes, there is n o requirement that anyone in the technical area be warned before being dismissed. If the behavior is bad enough, then off they go. As an example, I had a coach scream at his players to "take her out from behind" referring to an opponent with a break away. He was clearly telling his players to injure an opponent. Do you think he got a warning? Best..

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Sancho ,
you are correct cards were to signal the players their actions were under a warning or trancended acceptable behaviour by the colour, words were not requiredto indicate just whatwas being said. Within the technical area although you show cards to substitutes the support staff such as the coach, asst coach, trainer etc.. are either expelled or permitted to stay.

Decision 2
A team official may convey tactical instructions to the players during the match and he must return to his position after giving these instructions. All officials must remain within the confines of the technical area, where such an area is provided, and they must behave in a responsible manner.

takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may, at his discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds;

My warning to a coach to settle down, assuming the act itself is not a blatant you are gone theatrical show, is more of a finger to lip to be silent and a the two hand settle down palms down or the wave crossed palms like a safety call in baseball or a hand up palm facing to say stop right there fella.

While I might detail the antics of the official in a match report that were irritating . ANY official acting in an irresponsible manner that fails to heed the first few body language symbols is likely to get the one arm finger point arm swing to the parking lot. Chances are someone will translate "
"Sir you are requested to leave the FOP as you are being expelled from the game for failing to act in a responsible manner. This match will not continue with you on the grounds" Cheers