Question Number: 18442

Law 5 - The Referee 2/28/2008

RE: Competive Adult

Barbara Sharp of Douglas, Isle of Man United Kingdom asks...

Can a football match official (Referee) officiate at a match when he is related to a member of either football team?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A referee should not be assigned to a game in which a relative is playing or coaching. In fact, the ref should not accept games in the same league division that a relative plays in. This is to avoid all potential of impropriety. Suppose the ref's son plays on a team that is second in the division, and the ref gets assigned to the game of the league-leading team. One controversial call against that team, and the ref will get accused of bias, trying to make it easier for her son's team to rise in the standings.

A good assignor will ask the referees she administers to provide conflict of interest information. Then she will not assign that ref to any games in the division with a conflict.

Having said that, I've been called upon to ref for my daughter's team when no assigned referee appeared. One time a player said, "Oh, good, Coach Gary's going to ref today." I told her, maybe not so good, I knew how she played and what to watch for. I took the ref positions in that game because we only had 3 choices:
(1) everyone goes home, and hopes that the game can be rescheduled, which would be doubtful
(2) another spectator takes up the whistle - someone equally "biased" because of team affiliation, but without any referee training.
(3) I do the game, with my inherent sense of Fair Play
We had one coach in our division who said, "We like playing the Panthers - we know there will always be a ref there."

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Can, yes. Should, NO. Just too many opportunities for spectators and players to claim bias.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Many localities ban a referee from participating in a match where there is a relative involved. As Ref Fleischer states, even if allowed it's a bad idea.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Barbara,
conditions are at times leave too few to do too much . Percieved bias is a fact of life. Those who seek unfairness even if the referee overreacts in the opposite manner being extra hard on his own side they still will find a reason to complain. At the WC level no refereee crew from the country represented by the teams playing is allowed to officiate. At the grass roots we are lucky enough to even have referees. We perform as parents, supporter, coach and referee sometimes in the same match. It is possible to do it and things are fine but certain circumstances can turn it into a big worry bone and thus best to prevent it when possible. In fact there are legal restrictions and policy forbidding it at the more competative levels.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

As my esteemed colleagues have pointed out, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. I know that I would not have a problem refereeing my son's or my daughter's game, but I don't want to put myself or my kids in a position that could in any way be misconstrued.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I don't think the referee ought to accept this assignment. If he finds it out by surprise, I would suggest he inform both teams that he must reluctantly decide not to referee the game. It would be unethical to take control of that match.

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

See Question: 18460