Question Number: 15333

League Specific 4/30/2007

RE: maple league Under 17

jessica thompson of Dorchester, massachusett united states asks...

At a recent game a player was red carded from the game for kicking a player while he was on the ground. He continued to yell at the ref for red carding him. The ref told him to leave the area and then re-started the game. The ejected player never left and continued to incite his team. During a corner kick (the ejected players team), a player was pushing the keeper around. Next thing you know, the player puts the keeper in a choke hold and I was told punched him. Keeper then proceeds to punch the kid choking him. Now, the ejected player and a couple of other players then jump on the keeper and proceed to punch the daylights out of him. Three players from ejected players team got red card, one day suspensions. Keeper got 1 day suspension. My question is, how come the player that was already ejected only got one game suspension even though he re-entered the field to fight yet again?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Sarah there is a problem with sending-off a youth player and the litigious society in which we exist. A player sent-off is to leave the technical area and the field surrounds and for the most part that means the locker room. That is easy in other places where The Game is taken seriously, there is a club house! So the sent-off goes away.

In America we are prohibited from telling a sent-off player to go away if there is no locker room. We must not jeopardize this youth's safety, he must not be left to his own devices because he will do something stupid or bring harm to himself then we'll be sued by his parents. That is not conducive to referee retention so we must keep him close by.

Here is what I suggest leagues do with a sent off player: he is sent to a place on his side of the field, he is supervised by an adult, he takes no further part in the match; to include talking to players, coaches, or match officials. In other words he sits and does nothing. The singular most dishonorable thing a footballer can do is be sent-off. He reduces his team's effectiveness because he is not replaced. He is not available for the next match, at least. What parents do is they cheer him as he is leaving, this sets us up as the bad guy. Right, that's my opinion and suggestion.

This doesn't help you for the day in question either, did it? So what can the referee do? The player is sent-off. When he interferes the match is abandoned -- there is no warning, there is no changing this, the match is over and the referee goes home and submits her report. She takes all the player passes from both teams and returns them to the league with her report [this prevents the referee from having the possibility of a confrontation with either coach]. In the report the referee explains the sending-off, the fact the player did not behave properly and the team's coaching staff and parents did not help in preventing this player from acting the fool. At that point the referee collects her match fee and the league disciplinary committee meets and takes appropriate action against this player and the adults who failed in their job.

Notice, the corner kick where the second problem never happens because the match ended some time before that.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The moment the player who was sent off starts acting out once he is off the field, the referee should terminate the match. Like Ref Fleischer says above, there is no warning and certainly you need give no reason as Law V states:

The Referee:
-stops, suspends or terminates the match, at his discretion, for any infringements of the Laws;

-stops, suspends or terminates the match because of outside interference of any kind;

In this case either of these could apply. Once the referee takes this action he should gather up his things and paperwork and leave the field immediately. I like Ref Fleischer's idea of taking ALL the passes with you, so long as you're refereeing a league where you are asked to seize the pass in the event of a red card. In any case once you get home write your report immediately and send it out. I would also call your league liason or whoever handles communication with the league and let them know what is coming.

The coaches should really have kept this kid under control, because they failed to do this the referee must protect the rest of the players, himself, and the integrity of the game by terminating the match. In your case, the referee failed to take such action and you can see the consequences for yourself.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jessica,
Quite simply the league lacks testicular fortitude to apply the laws and follow through with sanctions. AS referee if the sent off player remains as a problem you DO NOT restart. Failure to retire on his part or be supervised in some capacity after you abandone you record report and ensuring you and your ARs safety as well as the safety of the remaining participants.
Cheers

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