Question Number: 19092

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/14/2008

RE: REC & COMPETITIVE Under 18

Mary Callender of LANCASTER , CA USA asks...

Must A REF "show" a RED card: Player, after the game, still on Field while the REF was walking off and noting on the Game Card, player used abusive/offensive language to the REF - Ref took his Player ID, though did not say nor show that Player earned a RED CARD.
Our League disciplined as being "shown the RED CARD" as we had in possession his ID from the REF - the Coach disagrees .

Sincerely,
Mary Callender, CEO
AV United Soccer League

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

A referee may not display the card after the match, but any misconduct, including offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures, must be written up in the referee's match report, according to the Advice to Referees 5.17. The referee should inform the player, coach or competition authority of this action - although this is usually through the match report.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

It is not an absolute requirement to show the red card to a player/sub for misconduct AFTER the match is over. The incident is recorded and submitted in the match report.

In the few cases where the players are still on the field in the process of walking off a card could still be shown to highlight this fact or perhaps quell some retribution or reprisal from occuring. A referee has jurisdiction in the pregame warm up right until they have left the field area after the match to administer such a card.

In a match where in the parking lot the departing team said F U ref and gave the finger. The incident was reported and the player was found out and suspended and fined based on the match report. Even on incidents away from the field where a referee was threatened by players aside from police and legal action the misconduct as a code of unacceptable conduct when verified can result in suspensions and fines. Showing a card to highlight a player has acted like a putz is mentioned within the laws of the game. Acting like a putz is something that occurs in or away from games all the time no card is required for an individual to display ignorance or intolerance.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee noted on the game card one of your players used offensive or insulting or abusive language and or gestures aimed at him. He effected discipline to the player based on what he knew to be true. He retained the player's pass in accordance with league policy. He filed a match report. These things are required under the first and last of the referee's powers and duties listed in Law 5 - The Referee:

"enforces the Laws of the Game"

"provides the appropriate authorities with a match report, includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players,
and/or team officials and any other incidents that occurred before, during or after the match"

I think where any misunderstanding begins is in both the league's and coach's concept of how discipline is effected in this Game. At the top of the right hand column of page 26 of the 2007/8 Laws of the Game we find the following:

Sending-Off Offenses

A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offenses:"

Again the reader will note an order of how things are done. Sent off is the act of expelling a player from the field and its surrounds. Showing the red card is the act of telling everyone else what has just transpired. The showing of a card after the match is discussed in the Additional Instructions and Guidance section of the Laws of the Game and that is NOT published in the US Soccer version because of cost cutting measures. Here is what is said:

"The referee has the power to show yellow or red cards during the
half-time interval and after the match has finished as well as during
extra time and kicks from the penalty mark, since the match remains under his jurisdiction at these times."

Now again to the Laws, specifically Law 12:

"The referee has the authority to take disciplinary sanctions, as from moment he enters the field of play until he leaves the field of play after the final whistle."

So in summation, the referee has acted in accordance with the Laws of the Game and the fact he did or did not show the appropriate card is irrelevant, given the time of the match and where players were or were not located. The player himself knew exactly what he did, the referee acted as a result of what the player did, the player knew what action would be taken given what was said. The disciplinary committee acted in accordance with it's policies and effected a ban of a specific length.

Whether or not there is agreement from the team's manager is irrelevant.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Punishing the player after the game may be done without showing the card. Players ought to know better than to use that type of language with the referee even after the final whistle.

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

See Question: 19235