Question Number: 19747

League Specific 8/14/2008

RE: Competive Adult

Adrian of MUSCATINE, IOWA USA asks...

I was part of a game where one of my team mates gave another person a little shoulder shove after a play. The player from the other team puts my team mate in a head lock and throws him to the ground. A HUGE fight breaks out between fans and players of both teams. I Am wondering because the league suspends all of our players involved the whole year and the one that gave a little shoulder shove 5 games suspension. But what we do not agree with is only one guy from the othe team got the whole year and other players jsut got 3 games suspension. How does that happen when both teams were involved. ALSO our team got suspended one game(next weeks game) and the other team got no suspension. Can we be suspended and the other team not be both the teams had fans and players involve but we are the only tema that gets a game suspension. WE feel we shouldnt be giving a game suspension(which we lose 1-0) and the other team gets nothing?? pelase get back to me ASAP

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

This has nothing to do with the laws of the game or refereeing. This has everything to do with the decision of your competition comittee. You should check their rules regarding an appeals process because the laws of the game and the advice that we give you cannot help your cause.

That aside, why even give a 'little shoulder shove after the play' that action is against the law whether the ball is in the vacinity or it isn't, and when it's not it's more likely misconduct. Plus what you see as 'minor' may be perceived as violence from the opponents. Remember that perception is reality and that there is always two sides to every story.

And yes, if it is your leagues judgment to suspend your side for a game, they can do it. And don't forget that punishments can often be given for actions observed during the entire melee, it doesn't necssesarily matter what instigated the situation (your team) or who escalated it.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Adrian, your question to us about suspensions. We deal with what happens BEFORE suspensions, that is what the referee does in the game itself. Your questions deal with the Rules of the Competition but we deal with questions in the Laws of the Game. There are as many rules as there are leagues. I am actually not sure why you asked us and not sure what answers you expected to receive.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Fairness as a legal concept has little meaning.
Those who decide because they are in power come to their own conclusions of right and wrong.
A referee records and reports what he or he and his fellow NEUTRAL officials ARs or 4th saw.
League official do whatever league officials do based on their own integrity and sets of rules laws and bylaws of their association and respective national or regional directives.

In a real FAIR PLAY environment this action would NEVER have evolved but we speak only of that we should strive for FAIR PLAY recognizing as human conditions we alone are responsible for how we choose to act or react to what occurs.

SELF respect is a gift one gives themselves. it is a core value and one to be treasured because it can NEVER be taken from you. Only you can lose it, squander it or give it away!

Injustice prevails if those who recognize it fail to speak out. IF you try to justify punishment as eye for eye as old school testament that died out ages ago. Agreement in controversy means agreeing to disagree more so than who is right.

You feel you got the raw deal it may be so but if you all ask yourself what did we do, justification of violence for violence ALWAYS has consequences no matter what self righteous aspects we affix onto our motives!

Fight the fight that has merit but accept or admit that fighting for a cause or belief is only as good as the truth as you know it to be. As in all truth it is not what we do not know that hurts us it is what we know for certain that isn't that catches us out!

FAIR PLAY are but words only action gives them meaning!
Cheers