Question Number: 21053

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/29/2009

RE: Private high school, no NFHS officials Under 19

Tim Mann of Akron, OH USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19243

There seems to be some disagreement amongst the distinguished panel. If I have read your responses correctly [19243], some have said that a red card being shown after the match is forbidden, while others have said it's ok. I'm not trying to stir up controversy, I just want to make sure I understand the answers.

As a side story for your enjoyment on this topic, I was the AR1 in a private high school varsity game. After the final whistle the players were leaving the field, and one of the players began to dissent the referee (both individuals ere still within the boundaries of the field), and he would not respond to the referee's directions to stop, so the referee took his yellow card out of his pocket. At this point the player removed his jersey, and snapped it at the referee's hand to knock the card out of his hand. The referee proceeded to place his yellow card back in his pocket, and removed his red card. It got his point across to everyone.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If you read the entire script including 19092 and 19235 you will note that there is no real disagreement and no one said it was forbidden??
Question MUST the card be shown to make the misconduct valid?
Answer NO! Misconduct does not evaporate due to a card not shown!

It IS certainly better to do so if the circumstances permit it but the misconduct is not waved just because a card was not shown to the back of an exiting player. I belive the referee should indicate to the coach/team that there is more going into the report than they might be aware of as a courtesy

If a player commits either a cautionable or sending off offence during the half time interval or on the field of play after the final whistle, the appropriate card(s) should be shown.

The Law requires referees to use cards at all levels of the game. The mandatory use of the cards is merely a simple aid for better communication.

Although the Law requires a referee to show a yellow card to a player as part of the cautioning procedure or show a red card for a sending off, failure to do so does not mean that the caution or send off has not been administered and the player concerned will be dealt with in accordance with the laid-down disciplinary procedures.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

We all agree that the misconduct is valid and punished whether the card is actually shown or not. Advice To Referees 5.17 states that the showing of cards is mandatory during the match.

Yellow and red cards, which are now mandatory indications of cautions and send-offs, may be shown only for misconduct committed by players, substitutes, or substituted players during a match. 'During a match' includes:
(a) the period of time immediately prior to the start of play during which players and substitutes are physically on the field warming up, stretching, or otherwise preparing for the match;
(b) any periods in which play is temporarily stopped;
(c) half time or similar breaks in play;
(d) required overtime periods;
(e) kicks from the penalty mark if this procedure is used in case a winner must be determined.
(f) the period of time immediately following the end of play during which the players and substitutes are physically on the field but in the process of exiting.

So, if the players are on the field right after the game then the cards should be shown. The point we tried to make, however, was that if the card is NOT shown for whatever reason, the punishment still applies. In the original question there was confusion as a coach believed that if the red card was not shown, there should be no punishment.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

After the match isn't very helpful as a description. If the referee is in the parking lot after the match and is subjected to verbal or physical abuse near his car, no card needs to be shown, but the details MUST be in the report.

After the match, when the referee comes to the coaches for signatures on the game card, and a player or players say or do offensive things, the card must be shown and details included in the game report. You'll note here 'after the match' the participants are still on the field (which includes the benches and any other areas where players, subs and subbed players are normally found during a match).

Only if the referee is fearful of personal harm for herself or for her crew might a case be made to not show cards on the field after the game. In such a case, the coaches must be informed at the earliest opportunity, and the game report MUST include all details. It is possible cards not shown in such circumstances will not be counted, but the complaint filed with the league, police, or whoever else needs to be informed can go forward with the information in the game report.

Do I need to emphasize more the vital importance of good game report writing?