Question Number: 22130

League Specific 10/2/2009

RE: Competative Adult

Al Sinopoli of Covington, LA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 22061

To address how does a sanctioned league and the state association under which they are registered allow play with player passes expired in an Amateur Match? Here's how:

1) The Amateur League season is for the calendar year (not Sept-Aug). So when the player/teams registered with LSA at the end of 2008, the registrations only covered them until the start of 2009-10 season, August 29th 2009. This game took place on Sept 20th.

2) In the past, the league assignor has said that LSA has allowed the league to remain registered through the calendar year on those passes. No one had informed him or the league of any differences this year. We had passes and rosters, so to the referees, all appeared as before.

3) Apparantly, no one at LSA communicated with the league and vica versa on these matters. So the take of LSA is to 'wash their hands' of this incident, rather than taking a diciplinary stand on a referee assault. Makes you feel like a chump for trying to protect players as a referee, when your association will abandon you in your time of need.

4) I was informed that the league has issued a lifetime ban for the player in this incident...however, he is free to register in other leagues as this suspension doesn't apply to USSF or LSA.

We as referees end up in the middle of this. I will say that since it is commonplace for teams to bring in a 'ringer' (ex pro player from South/Central America) during the playoffs, that the league and LSA should be on the same page as far as registrations go. This league has been in existence since the 1970s, so there is nothing new going on here.

Just to let you know, another long time amateur league that started their season in September had to fix their registrations this month due to this incident. So this isn't just a single league paperwork glitch.

I do not know if this lack of oversight is just with my state agency or is commonplace. However, just as the value of US currency is based upon the faith of the US government to stand behind it, so too apparantly are the rosters or player passes only worth the paper they are written on if your state agency will stand behind them.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

While I agree, the concern is the leagues' failure to support a referee and sanction immoral conduct on the pitch as a worldwide ban! If attacked by a player or coach and I was officating later at a match where they were participating because they could not be sanctioned I could refuse to do that match in fact likely refuse to officate for that league. I also could push for assault charges and punitive damages in the initial phase as well FULLY expecting the league to bear any associated costs! The league could be held liable if they fail to act or support the official.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Al
Thanks for sharing your views on this. This is a problem throughout the football world not just the US and in my opinion referees should leave these matters to the League Authorities. My advice to referees is just report and bring it ot the attention of the authorities.
The referee's task is to implement the Laws of the Game.