Question Number: 14347

Character, Attitude and Control 11/2/2006

RE: Select Under 19

George of Charlotte Area, NC USA asks...

After a match (tournament), a player was quite upset that the referee had told her to 'shut up' during the match (As the assistant Referee, I couldn't hear anything during the match), and as she was talking to him, he dismissively waved her off (as I likely would have done, besides the more important 'walking away'), well, as she was walking away, she flipped him off. So I walked over to her and beckoned her in a stern voice to come with me, and took her to the center referee. I explained to him what she just did, but he just said she wasn't worth dealing with, the match was over.

My question: I *know* what the LoTG say, but I'm wondering if I'm being too harsh by saying that she should have received a send-off and shown the red card for her misconduct? Is there a subtle nuance to the art of refereeing that I'm missing?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi George
in my opinion a referee should not be telling young players to shut up. It is a negative response even if it conveys what that player should be doing! The key is to stop the unwanted player responses if possible without further action on our part IF possible but do not to shy away from needed action.
If warning I use player numbers ie...
red 13 you are acting in an inappropriate fashion! Either you decide to agree to disagree and move on or further action on my part could be required. I could hold up a hand and say This ENDS right here right now! If further action is needed then we go to showing yellow or red as the situation demands.

If a player acts inapropriately the referee deals with it as a neutral official in a professional capacity by warning, cautioning or sending the miscreant off. The subtle distinction of the artistic referee who has it together is responsible actions are always required even if others are less than stellar.

If a player approaches a referee to vent that referee must decide the degree or measure of response that could perhaps recognize the emotional component, stop the behaviour, correct any deficiencies and get on with the match.

I do not advocate ignoring the actions of abuse just be aware your response may have as much to do with continuing an exchange as it could in stopping the incident then and there. It is crucial as a good referee you do not feed logs to create a raging fire by inapropriate behaviour or words.

The same again for the need to act when that fire is out of control. A player who chooses to act against a referee by physical or verbal interaction should be unsurprised if caution yellow card or red card send off is the result.

Yes we could seek a carefully crafted response as a warning with effect in some cases in an attempt not to see a team roster be reduced but that lies within the character of the referee and the player or coach he is in conflict with!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee should not use phrases like "shut up" if, indeed, that's what he did. We all act and react differently. Had I been the center and you brought this young lady to me, I'd have to first assess what had provoked her. Second, who saw what she did. If it was a reflexive outburst that no one saw or reacted to, why escalate matters to a sending off. If it was boistrous and was done to show me up in front of her teammates, I'd have to act on it with at least a caution for dissent. Usually, a good talking to will suffice, but this referee had already decided not to talk didn't he?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The referee should act on advice from the assistant referees. Here the assistant referee saw something and the referee should respond to it. In my opinion, the match is over so the referee should include the conduct in the match report. I agree with Mr. Contariono that we need to look at the whys and whats here.