Question Number: 15413

Character, Attitude and Control 5/7/2007

RE: Select and Rec

Robert Herndon of San Marcos, TX USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 14423

When parents or spectators persistently dissent, yelling at the referees, to the point that it is affecting the players and the game, can the ref send off the spectators? If not, what action should be taken?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The referee has full authority on the match. The referee can terminate the game at his discretion. He certainly does not to have to put up with abuse from anyone. If it is players or subs, he can caution or send off. Coaches...he can expel from the match. Fans are usually the hardest to deal. I deal with spectators through coaches. I have told unruly fans to leave before. If they do not listen, then I go over to their coach and tell him to deal with him or the game is over. If it is a large group of spectators, I have the coaches deal with them directly. Either have them leave or the game is terminated.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 5 says the referee "stops, suspends or terminates the match because of outside interference of any kind." If the behavior of spectators is interfering with the match, it will be stopped and not restarted until that behavior improves. Sometimes there is no improvement possible, or the behavior has been so severe, that the ref is justified in telling the coach that some or all of the spectators must leave or the game will not continue. Leagues generally don't take a kind view of teams that cannot control their sidelines.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Actually you have no control over the spectators, what you do control is whether the match continues or not. That's your best tool. Use it through the coach and let him know what you are displeased with, what he can do to correct it and what happens if he fails. The ole shut them up or I go home ploy. Use it sparingly, but use it when necessary.

Regards,