Question Number: 16218

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/5/2007

RE: Premier, High School Adult

Tom Drapeau of Southwick, Ma USA asks...

Law 12 - Send off - denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity -- During a high school game an attacker beat the last defender with the ball near him and was in the box in front of the goal. The keeper came out and tripped him with his feet as he attempted to get the ball. The attacker was awarded the PK and there was no send off. The 4 criteria were met.
Question - is there a scenario where the send off is not appropriate ?

Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

This option is only available to referees who don't possess sufficient courage to disqualify the keeper. There are many of these referees walking [note the use of the word walking] around out there.

One should note the experience needed to referee a US high school match is passing a 100 question T/F test. There are no other requirements. There is no match experience necessary. There is no fitness test. Basically the requirements are hear thunder and see lightning, however those have been known to be waived in some cases. In my area a referee must posesses, at least, a USSF grade 08 license.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Hard to imagine a scenario like the one you describe where the keeper shouldn't be sent off. If the referee judged there was another defender close by who could have made a play, then it is a judgment call, but like Referee Fleischer methinks referee is missing a major body part - and/or doesn't have the training or experience to know failing to send off the keep was a booboo - or both. With any luck, he will have had good feedback from ARs and/or other refs watching, will go home, look it up, beat himself about the head and shoulders and go forth and not goof up again - at least on that kind of thing.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Sounds like the referee did not have the courage to send the keeper off, What a shame! Pretty much if he called the foul and all of the elements of DOGSO were there, then there is no excuse for not sending off. If the referee believed that the foul was doubtful, then it should not have been called in the first place.