Question Number: 21164

Law 5 - The Referee 4/21/2009

RE: Select Under 14

of Lexington, KY USA asks...

I've played & coached soccer for years and THOUGHT I had a pretty good understanding of the game until I saw something this past weekend which has left me thoroughly confused. I was watching a U13 Select game while waiting for my team to play. Watching with me were several referees who were waiting for their games as well. Red team was defending. White team was attacking.

Red defender received the ball and was curling it out to the side to clear it upfield. Clearly in control of the ball & running full tilt. White player was running along slightly behind him and blatantly tripped the Red player just outside the penalty box, literally sweeping his legs out from under him. Center ref blew the whistle & indicated a free kick which I assumed would be awarded to the Red team.

However... he gave the ball to the White player and pronounced 'White kick.' The Red defender (who had not yet made it back onto his feet) burst out with 'That's bogus!' at which point, the center Ref presented him with a Yellow card for dissent. No argument that it was dissent but given the language I hear around the fields on a regular basis, 'that's bogus' seems to be a pretty mild offense to merit a Yellow card. And believe me it was a lot milder than what the parents began yelling at that point!

While the Ref completed teh necessary documentation for teh Yellow card, the White team set up the ball where the foul occurred to restart play with a free kick as had been indicated previously and the Red team built a wall to defend their goal. The referee completed his paperwork and walked back towards the center of the field to presumably get a better view of the restart.

Before indicating restart of play however, he walked back down to where the White team was set to take teh kick, picked up the ball, and carried it to the penalty mark - telling the the players that the restart would be a penalty kick by the White team against the Red team. No additional foul was called - just the verbal instructions to restart with a penalty kick.

I was totally confused by that point, as were the refs who were watching with me. The initial foul took place outside of the box (regardless of the fact that it was awarded incorrectly) and the dissent (such as it was) also occured outside of the box. What possible reason could there have been for him changing the restart to a penalty kick? Any insight on this would be appreciated!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

We weren't there, so we will be at least as confused as you were.

Perhaps this referee needs a vision check.

Or it is quite possible that you and the others on the sideline missed something that happened just a moment before the apparent take-down foul that you all think happened.

If you feel this ref was totally out to lunch, you should report him to the assignor for the game or to the referee committee (local or state) so he can be evaluated.

'Bogus', while not nasty language, certainly is saying that the ref's decision wrong. That' s the definition of dissent.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Sigh. Another inventive referee, loose on the fields. Call the assignor - and I HOPE his fellow referees provided counsel and a report to the assignor.

The signs are all there for someone who isn't yet comfortable with the job.

First, awarding the kick the wrong way. This shows lack of focus, and no reliance on the ARs (assuming there were any), not to mention being incredibly slow on the draw. The fact that an error wasn't recognized worries me.

Even if the tripping of the red defender was the second offense in a series, perhaps the first being one by the red defender vs. white, the mechanics of the call are all wrong. First of all, there should have been an earlier whistle the moment the red defender had clear possession. Second, a proper indication of the penalty spot. That the teams had time to completely set up before he returned to reset the kick as a penalty kick is just amazing.

A tackle/trip from behind and at speed should normally be at least a reckless challenge and thus at least a yellow card for UB vs. white. Sounds like a protestable error - a misapplication of the Laws of the Game.

As for the kid's reaction - understandable, but dissent nonetheless. Perhaps if he'd asked the referee politely why the kick wasn't for red instead of white, he might have prevailed. No guarantees!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

My head hurts trying to grasp the overall picture.
Referees are at various stages of development, same as the players in the skill and abilities they bring to the game. Even a well seasoned referee can on occasion have a weirdness out to lunch moment and it is possible that a referee with integrity sees what he sees even if he sees it different than anyone else!
Do we assume there was no AR assisting here who COULD have provided additional information?? It is always possible that an earlier foul was unseen by the referee and reported by the AR which could change the restart?

While at times difficult to NOT comment on a BOGUS call perceived or real it is best to always approach the referee with a calm, 'Why was that? There is no guarantee that the referee will engage you but respect is a two way street and mistakes, real or perceived are not something easily admitted especially if not accepted as a mistake.

Failing some rational explanation I can only concur with my colleagues that this referee was rattled and off base with both the foul recognition and the laws of the game as they apply to the situations he was facing.
If indeed the referee miscalled the direction assuming there was no elbow/foul by red prior to the trip.
If indeed there was reckless or excessiveness in that trip that went unnoticed or perceived by the referee.
If indeed the referee jumped on the dissent because he was already walking a thin line.
If indeed the referee thought that he could change the restart location based on the dissent to a PK.
There is indeed much here to protest and make sure the league officials are informed of this particular stage of the match. A referee needs to be trained, mentored, and assessed to better do the job and understand the adage of your match, your decision, your reputation was not likely enhanced by this situation!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hard to give the referee the benefit of doubt from what you describe and given the fact that you were watching with referees that were likewise confused. I have no problem with the referee 'seeing' the foul occurring inside the penalty area as his vantage point may have been better than yours, but his mechanics were terrible. Of course, he awarded the kick the wrong way!!! Had there been an AR, that AR should have done whatever needed to get the referee's attention and help him sort out what should be done.

As to the card for dissent; it was dissent however mild. I'm not surprised that a referee that could botch such a call would also have an extremely thin skin.

I agree with Ref Maloney, this was not a referee interpretation that we cannot argue with but a clear misapplication of the Law (calling a foul against the team that was fouled)

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

Wow. I really have nothing to add other than I would have lOVED to have heard the explanation for this one. I can't help but think that something must have happened OTHER than what you and the others saw but only the ref knows for sure. And I agree that the mechanics described are horrible, regardless. Oh well. All the best,