Question Number: 21029

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/24/2009

RE: Adult

Melvin H. of Colorado Springs, Colorado U.S.A. asks...

Last weekend, Man. United player Wayne rooney was red-carded out of the Fulham mattch for either a temper tantrum at the referee or throwing the ball really hard back to a previous spot where the ref wanted the free kick retaken (violent conduct?). The card was deserved, no doubt of that and I am not questioning that!!

I got to thinking: Assume Rooney had rolled the ball on the ground--like a bowling ball--at the same speed back to the spot where the ref was.

It seems to me, barring any other actions, that if you throw the ball in the air back as hard as Rooney threw it back, that could hit an opposing player in the head . . . and start a fracas (the reason for the red card being violent conduct)--whereas if it is rolled back, even that hard, the worst would be it hits a player in the foot or lower leg (might still start a fracas but far, far lower chance of that).

Could Rooney have avoided a red card--maybe only getting a yellow, or maybe only a lecture--by rolling the ball on the ground, instead of throwing it in the air back to the spot of the free kick?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Yes! It is likely a roll the ball back or a very HIGH toss in an arc will not be looked at in quite the same manner unless that ball winds up no where near the spot of the infraction.
Rooney as good a player as he thinks he is, is still a petchulant child when it comes to emotions and conduct.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Not having seen the incident I can only make a guess but if Mr. Rooney didn't throw the ball AT anyone, I suspect the send off was for something he said.

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

See Question: 21045