Question Number: 18689

Law 5 - The Referee 4/5/2008

RE: This game was an international friendly High School

Loren Stanton of Ketchikan, Alaska USA asks...

In a girls high school game between teams from Alaska and British Columbia which was a "friendly" set of matches a person in the crowd yelled "kill herrrr". I was reffing and I heard the yell and identified the person who did it in the crowd. Supposedly he was encouraging a defensive player from the home team when the offensive player was making a move down near the goal.

I was centering and did not stop play. At the next stoppage of play I went over to the crowd and said that that language was unsportsmanlike and said that if I heard it again I would ask the person to leave. Members of the crowd just yelled out "I didn't do anything" etc.

I left it at that. Did I do the right thing? What else can be done in that situation?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Wow. Where in Alaska? I'm coming this summer and was wondering what the soccer world looks like in the frozen north! As for dealing with the fans and onlookers, you have no actual authority to make them leave other than refusing to continue to conduct the game with them there - but they often don't know that. If what you did worked, excellent. It never hurts to ask, and the fact that it has been heard and observed usually will engender some help from the crowd - assuming there are any real grown-ups present. However, should one be unable to get cooperation, and if the language/behavior is directly affecting the conduct of the game for the players, or in some circumstances, you, terminate the game, and submit a complete report to the league authorities. I would warn the coaches first about the need to resort to this measure, because there are some great ones out there who will control their sidelines, especially with such an incentive. A word of caution here - DO NOT THREATEN TO TERMINATE IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO DO SO. You'll have dug a black hole from which there is no return.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

When the spectators become too much for you the only recourse available is singling the person out and suggesting he stop or the match ends here and now. This only works if you intend the noise to stop OR ELSE! If you do have to speak with a spectator take the team's captain and his child with you. Having three people confront someone who is more comfortable in the anonymity of a crowd usually out votes him and has results far beyond the one match. In any case your match report must mention the person BY NAME. Again use the team's captain to get the name 'cause she will usually know who her parents are and who the idiots are.

Last time I confronted the crowd for inciting players to do harm the coach and I went into the stands and I said either the persons demanding harm come of the visitors will get up and leave or I will leave. Three high school boys left and there was no further problem. It's all in the delivery of the demand and whether or not you are believed. Usually folks can tell to trifle with me isn't all that intelligent a thing to do...

By the way, you just found out there are no "friendlies" in Football.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I had a similar situation in a U12 game. At the next stoppage, I told the girls to hold up, and went over to talk with the coach. "The person who is encouraging violence will have to leave. There is no place for that here." The perpetrator immediately railed on me, which I stopped by telling him politely but loudly, "Sir, if you do not leave now, this game will not resume." The only reason I spoke directly to him was because he addressed me; otherwise I would have continued to use the coach as a conduit. He grumbled a bit, slowly gathered his things, and moved off.