Question Number: 16610

Law 5 - The Referee 9/9/2007

RE: division 1 Under 13

Maxine Laguna of santa cruz, ca santa cruz asks...

Is it possible that referees misuse their authority? This last game, first game of season my son got yellow from a foul which was understandable then red carded 10 min after into game. Apparently he thought my son said something inappropriate. All the children and opponents said it wasn't him. My son was in tears. He is a very quiet boy. Should a ref turn his back after blowing a whistle due to a foul with 2 kids on ground in penalty box inorder to give a red card. By the way, He looked like he wasn't sure who to give it to in the crowd behind him but decided to give it to my son. I am so appalled. What do I do? Opponents ref also stated he will write letter. To make it short. I want to add that our team is hispanic and I felt such prejudice from this ref. I felt so bad for the children.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Yes it is possible for a referee to exceed his authority. BUT the referee's opinion regarding facts connected with play are final so the referee has the authority to decide on anything that happens from the time he enters the field of play until he leaves the field after the match. Normally the referee is only going to take action on those things he knows beyond doubt.

Regular referee mechanics tell us he doesn't look away from something involving opponents that collide and do not separate unless he has very good reason to look away.

When a person chooses to accuse another of racial bigotry based on his or her own opinion I tend to look at the accuser before the accused. I have been accused of having racial overtones in my decision making process and that starts something that I end instantly. I instantly stop play and advise the coaches that the match in going to end or my accusers are going to leave and leave instantly. If it's the coach he is instantly expelled. Should those involved not leave I do and I take all player's passes with me. I include all passes in my match report and explain the match was abandoned because an unidentified person accused me of bigotry. When the league identifies that person they can return the player passes. Until that time neither team can play.

No one in Football is to involve themselves if bigotry, utter racial slurs or anything along those lines. This is from the international governing body of Football, FIFA.

If you are that dissatisfied with the performance of the referee then a solution is qualify as referee yourself then replace this obviously, in your eyes, unqualified person.

Until proven otherwise the referee, right or wrong, is right. It has been that way since the 1891/2 season when the referee moved from the touchline onto the field of play.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I have witnessed a referee abuse his authority, but it is really not all that common. The vast majority of us work very hard to be as fair as possible to both teams and all the players. What is common is misunderstanding by the players, coaches and fans regarding what the referee is calling and why. As Ref Fleischer notes, a referee's calls are final. If you truly think upon reflection that this referee needs someone to watch him and help him learn, then I would recommend you contact the assignor for that league and your state referee administrator. They will get the referee's side of the story, and can perhaps send someone to assess a game or two of his to see if they can offer suggestions for his continued improvement.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Maxine,
a referee as a person is not infallible and could be wrong or inexperienced. For a referee to deliberately misuse his authority is against all the notions of integrity and reasoning why we offer our services as officials. Naivety aside certain leagues have had referees cheat to gamble or make money it does happen rarely but in a kids match and I have done well over 4000 of them I cannot say that I sought to do anything but the best job I could for those entrusted to my care. I suspect this is true of most referees in the world as well.

I referee ethic groups quite often with little trouble but have been accused as racist by certain groups in certain tournaments who felt as a white English official I looked to find fault. This was NEVER true and I deeply resented the implication but realized their opinion although incorrect was perceived as a cultural distinction when it comes to an excuse or an us or them situation of a disagreement. The color of a man's skin plays no part only the actions! Still one can talk until blue in the face if those in disagreement have made up their minds to see what they wish to see.

Most times it is best to agree to disagree and leave it at that. Still if the situation just refuses to be forgotten then a letter written to the league suggesting that the referee might benefit from some mentoring or additional instruction. I find that it is a good idea to avoid name calling or saying opinions but rather state what you saw and the results of the events before and after as impartially as one can. Do not get me wrong as a parent if I feel my child is the subject of abuse or a wrong doing I will defend them with heart and soul. It is just difficult to imagine them being signaled out for less consideration on a soccer pitch than another. They could be wrongly accused of saying something and the referee could be wrong in thinking they did it.

But as my colleagues point out a referee opinion on facts concerning play as a neutral official carries the day. That does not make them always right but it does settle the situation and allows the game to continue. We can not argue day and night over a situation we do not like!

Even if we do not control the events that surround us we make our life heaven or hell on this earth by the choices we make of our own free will. In the beautiful game a referee who fails to understand his committent to the spirit and concept of fairplay will answer to the one referee who passes judgement on us all eventually!

Forgive and strive to teach your kids that they can choose of their own free will not to repeat the mistakes they witness in others and if they become a referee themselves in time wearing those shoes they might see things differently! We need to prevent misunderstandings from being a controversial point of lingering resentment!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

It is possible for any person with power and authority to misuse it. (See Richard Nixon).

Anyway, it is also possible for reasonable people to come to decisions that others disagree with.

It is also possible for those who disagree with a decision to complain about said decision on the internet in hopes of validating their disagreement. Obviously, we do not know all of the facts and you've merely given your side of the story.

I cannot possibly comment on if the referee is wrong or right because you have already convinced yourself that the referee was acting out of racial prejudice and you've really not provided any reason to substanciate such a claim. That sort of thing is inflamatory and often is a rhetorical device used to infuriate people into seeing one's side of the story instead of looking at the facts. If what you say is true, then it is dispicable and you should report the referee's actions to the league. But you would need to have some sort of evidence that the referee was acting out of racial bias and your facts are lacking thereof.

In this life almost ANYTHING is possible.

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