Question Number: 16643

Character, Attitude and Control 9/11/2007

RE: D1 Under 13

Frank of Santa Cruz, ca USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16610

Just to add to Maxine's question..... After the game the Ref gave back all my player cards then stated I need the boy who got the red card player pass back. I stated what's the boys name and gave him back the card, I also stated please make sure you have the right boy in question and can you please note down that we plan to appeal your decision on "dissent" He then start talking to me In Spanish I told him I don't speak Spanish he looked at me and stated "yes you do!" the continued in Spanish. I am Mexican American but I don't speak or understand spanish. I stated to him don't you think thats pretty racist he just smiled.

The yellow card this boy received was a good battle between the attacking player and him they both were using the body and tugging on each other. The Ref blew his whistle and not even a verbal warning showed the yellow card. These are 11 yr old boys how about a verbal warning before showing the yellow. [16610 refers]

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Obviously in this meeting of the minds nothing was learned by either party. The referee, because he is in the United States should choose the English language as his primary method of communication and the other parties concerned should not choose accusing someone of racism when assumptions are made with no basis in fact.

This matter should be something for your league or state association to decide because it will net be resolved at this level of discussion.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

The following excerpt was taking from the Legal Definition section of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism:
"According to UN International Conventions, "the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life." [3] This definition does not make any difference between prosecutions based on ethnicity and race, in part because the distinction between the ethnicity and race remains debatable among anthropologists [4] According to British law, racial group means 'any group of people who are defined by reference to their race, colour, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origin.'"


Well, I happen to be American American myself, although I have a heritage of German and Scot. I have discovered that being white is nigh akin to being un-American because we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. Quite frankly I'm really tired of being accused of being a racist because I happen to be calling the fouls that are committed in greater quantity by a team who is predominantly "Hispanic." Equally, I am really sick and tired of being told by players of a predominantly Hispanic team to go back to the kitchen and cook, or a coach suggesting that I'm in a "bad mood" because the phase of the moon runs along the same schedule as my internal hormonal clock. It makes me sick that my federal tax money goes to support federally sponsored racism in the form of special programs whose participants are chosen based on the color of their skin (and whites need not apply) I'm really sick and tired that every other color in the melanin spectrum accept white (which, in case it has been forgotten, IS a color) feels completely free to slander a white person and of course that's not racism....but woe to the colorless (aka white) person.... not even a peep of opinion is allowed or they'll get slapped with a 'hate crime' conviction so fast they won't know what hit them. And since this is supposed to be a discussion regarding soccer and the application of the laws of the game, I best not continue with my opinion regarding racism and those who accuse. So this referee assumed you spoke spanish. so what? He might be being stupid, but he's not being racist. If you wish to accuse this person of being racist, then you sir, are being racist yourself because you are basing your judgement of them and thier actions on the color of their skin. So why don't you and your little crew of people do exactly what you want us referees to do -- get a little thicker skin, grow up and move on. Accusing a person of racism is the latest crutch fad. It's petty and small and lowers the standard of what REAL racism is. I have seen real racism in action and comparatively, this is petty. It's almost like calling someone a "blonde" and really meaning they are stupid....which, come to think of it, I'm sort of getting tired of being called a blonde too....hmmmm maybe I should slap a hate speech civil law suit on the next person who does that.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Lessons in life come in many ways and in varying degrees.
I recently watched the Helen Keller story Miracle ( a spectacular event of a magnificent women teaching an incredible young lady. The difficulty her teacher had in getting the message that this means that evolved far past the ethnic, state of social graces, the race, bigotry and pity barrier unlike most who never quite get that life is seized for what it has to offer not what others expected ! There are many ways for an objective to be met yet the referee chooses the one in his opinion best works for him. It may well be not the only thing or even the right thing but it clearly means this means that! I know nothing of the referee you are at odds with neither his race nor age not the level of his experience. If he was a smart ass or felt he was being treated in a hostile manner and had his guard up. Whether he purposefully dished you or went against every grain of integrity and fabricated something because he had a grudge against an 11 year old. It might be a misunderstanding and an over reaction on all concerned . As my colleagues point out we are not likely to resolve a divergence of opinion on something we neither saw nor have an effect on.

I am concerned you are talking a caution show a yellow card as a red card send off so I went back and reread the original question
note this quote "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." This implied to me the referee was not Hispanic and the fact he spoke Spanish caught me by surprise as you claim you do not but he MIGHT have thought you did perhaps because the team was Hispanic? The touchline comments coming from the parents were they in English or Spanish?

It also was clear mom was ok with the caution but felt the red card for an abusive comment was not fair. You seem to be feeling the yellow card was unjustified as well as the red card ten minutes later. Even quiet fellows can occasionally mouth off! Still even if he did not and some other player did those quick to point out he did not did they point out someone else? It could be the referee identified the child incorrectly it also could be a resentful phrase uttered in frustration was picked up by over sensitive ears and perceived in a disagreeable way. I have often found that younger or inexperienced referees are GREATLY influenced by the sideline chatter of the adults more so than the antics of the kids on the field. I wish it was not so but the sad fact is less than perfect humans do react in arsine ways when frustrated or upset.
I ask you to consider of what reason or importance a referee would arbitrarily make up an event just to see an 11 year old cry? Warnings of behavior and advice are fine but IF the event was such that the referee felt yellow or red was the needed color I would be very interested in what the referee report had to say? Since you are protesting read it over after you pay the protest fee and see it written as to why and what he saw and or heard! You can argue a point of law if it was misapplied, you can witness conduct and actions and words spoken in front of witnesses but an opinion on a fact of play even if you hold a contrary view is not contestable.
Cheers