Question Number: 15654

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/30/2007

RE: Competitive U-13B

Richard Dopazo of Brookline, MA USA asks...

In a highly competitive Boys U13 Semi-Final match that has the Red team up, 1-0, vs White, there are 3 minutes left. The ball is passed by White down the left touchline, with White and Red running side by side and chasing the ball. When they reach the goal line, White falls to the ground with legs extended toward the goal while Red is standing. During the chase, White was nearest the touchline. I whistled to stop play. What is the call? I suspected and found out from my AR later that Red had pulled White's shirt down to his knees. I was 20 yards away and could not see this.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If you saw a player carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force foul an opponent, then go with your judgement decision. If your AR thought that a foul should be called, the correct procedure is for the AR to raise flag, make eye contact with referee, wave flag slightly, and then referee whistle for foul. If AR is in better position than referee to see foul, then the AR can call it. This is up to you as you are the referee. You know how you have been calling the game up until the point and no one, but you can decide.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Richard, you blew the whistle and stopped play and have to write us to find out the call? How are we to know? If you didn't see anything than you should NOT blow your whistle. You can look to your AR but if his flag is not up you simply have to allow play to continue. NEVER stop play because you THINK something illegal happened. The white player just as likely could have simply fallen.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

My colleagues have addressed your question correctly, I would like to look at what happened from the mechanics end, the assessor's view. Granted I can't really address the issue because I wasn't there. But, I'll do it anyway...

The referee, 3 minutes from time, on "a highly competitive Boys U13 Semi-Final match that has the Red team up, 1-0" took a position 20 yards from play, between the centre circle and the left side of the penalty arc, with his back to his assistant, at an angle from which he could not see between two opposing players during an attack near the touchline while they approached the by-line on the referee's side. In doing so he missed a flagrant shirt pull that, most probably, was tactical in nature and designed to prevent the attacker's continued play. Because the referee's eyes were not facing the assistant he did not flag.

The referee did not anticipate that late in "a highly competitive Boys U13 Semi-Final match that has the Red team up, 1-0" there would be a deciding moment and therefore did not position himself to see between the players. Because he was unable to see what happened, yet awarded a free kick, did not caution and show the yellow card and did not consult with his assistant for any additional information it is my opinion the referee should be reassessed at this level to ensure his competence for further assignment.

How close am I to what really happened???

Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 15670