Question Number: 14328

Character, Attitude and Control 10/31/2006

RE: Competitve Under 14

Steve Salis of Vero Beach, Florida USA asks...

I need advice on how to handle this one.

My son was playing in U-13 Comp. game last weekend in a neighboring town. The 2 teams are the best in the league and the game was one of the most intense and well played games I have ever seen in Youth Soccer.

Play was very physical and in my mind allowed to go too far (I tend to be fairly conservative and adhere to safety first). I was a spectator at this game.

The parents from both teams were yelling comments to the CR (mostly negative). The CR chose to engage our parents in an exchange on 2 occassions - sniping back that you know I made the right call there" or You're jealous of his (opposing player's skill). I found that conduct odd and unprofessional.

Then he addressed 2 of our hispanic parents, who had been yelling in spanish, "Que paso - why don't you learn to speak English or go back home." That crossed the line.

I noticed right after that, that a friend of mine (also a club official of the home team) was watching the game. I asked if he had heard the exchange and he confirmed that he had. He was not happy with the conduct and promised that he would speak to the Referee at the end of the game (this happened before the half).

Sorry for the long winded detail, but should there be any reporting of this to an assignor or other body? This conduct is not acceptable. None of the coaches on either team heard the exchanges. The home team players did and they responded as 12 yr olds do - they laughed. So the players were "kind of" involved.

By the way. After the CR saw me conversing with the Club Official, the exchanges with the parents stopped. The game calls started to even out and he did a good job in 2nd half.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The referee may have been out of line here, but the specatators were equally out of line. You are lucky the referee did not stop the game and remove everyone. Or at least have the coaches deal with their spectators. They have no right to say things to the referee. I agree that the referee should not have engaged in a conversation with the spectators, but keep in mind that none of this would have happend if everyone would have behaved. All you can do is report incident to club assignor.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee is to remain professional. The parents are there to watch NOT get their jollies off yelling at an authority figure and demonstrating their contempt for his authority.

As to what the referee did or did not do; is it possible the parents in exercising their constitutional right to free speech allowed the referee to exercise his?

Regarding the parents yelling in Spanish; what was yelled? Given some things I tend to yell back, in a language they can not understand, and say the same thing.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Mike Gartenhaus

I agree with most everything my fellow advisers said above, but I cannot say strongly enough that there is absolutely no excuse for the referee to say what he did to the Hispanic spectators. It is somewhat racist, and regardless of what was originally said to him, which it sounds like he did not understand anyway, should not be tolerated by anybody, including the assignor and the Club. If he did that in my association and was reported and verified, that referee would be banned. You are very correct to be concerned.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Any official that creates ADDITIONAL controversy by insulting insinuating or degrading a fellow official, coach, player, parent or fan even if provoked has forgot the very concept of FAIR PLAY. While we appreciate the needed backbone of character to bear the burden of officiating this referee has suffered some serious tears in the mantle of integrity that should surround it.

Since I do not know what was said, the manner it was phrased, its tone or intent please forgive me if I have not addressed this important issue with the needed solution to fix something rather than blame something.

To be fair recording and reporting EVERYTHING with supporting documentation and other witnesses is not wrong. The league must monitor any inapropriate behaviour by all its members referees are not excluded. A referee as a neutral figure can still make mistakes and to be sure his view may not be the same as yours or others. I referee many European and South American teams I understand just enough at times to know the voices raised in unfamilar languages is not unfamilar in what it means.

You imply that the referee mended his ways after he saw you talking with the club official? As to why the referee choose to do as he did only he can answer that. If your intervention created a better situation then good. I can not find fault with those that act on principle I just wish ALL participants could remember that principles cast aside and picked up only when convienent create more controversy not less.
Cheers