Question Number: 17421

Mechanics 10/21/2007

RE: Competitive Under 15

Stan of Sebastian, Florida USA asks...

I was watching my son's game yesterday when the following happened. White Attacker received the ball and started his push past half way line about 10 yrds from touch. defender closed in from the side, locked arms with the attacker and followed through by shoving him off the ball to the pitch. No foul was called so, so blue player retreives the ball and heads up field. While in the motion of passing, the aggreived white player comes in from behind, cleats down, but through the back of the legs. His cleats never made contact with the blue player, but his legs went straight through the blue player's legs and wiped him out - again no call.

My question: Undoubtedly the initial shove was a foul that was not recognized by the referee. The subsequent slide tackle from behind was clearly retaliation. In my mind, the initial foul was careless/ reckless. The slide tackle was at least reckless, if not excessive. Assuming these instances were to be whistled as stated, should the referee take into account the retalitorial aspect of the slide tackle in determining whether it is reckless (YC Caution) or Excessive Force (RC - Dismissal)?

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

In my opinion, NOT a frigging chance. A referee MUST ensure he spots the fouls and thus prevent the need for players to take matters into their own hands. If we truly miss something it is a part of the game. If we miss it because we are to tired to get good position for a decent angle of view, too lazy to study the laws , can not be bothered to seek help or mentors so we can understand foul recognition, if we fail to act appropriately on the fouls we do see we fail in our duty! To retailiate is usually done in anger, instinctive to a degree and most often easier to spot. As they say, "It is what it is and it ain't what it ain't." It is like a war with no chance of peace because we always consider the right to strike last instead of forgive first.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Retaliation is the largest indicator of a referee NOT doing his first job: "enforces the Laws of the Game". It is just that simple... By the time a referee has enough experience to be assigned to a U-15 boy's match one would tend to think he has sufficient match experience to be there. In enough cases to cause worry, this is simply not so! The other side of not calling foul play is it keeps the loudest parents from screaming "what was that?" or "let them play" or "handball" or, you know the drill. The referee finds the easiest way to keep the Alpha Hotels quiet and goes with that. Then we have bent and broken children or they resort to enforcing the Laws themselves.


Regards,

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

See Question: 17473

See Question: 17488