Question Number: 22836

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/17/2010

RE: competitive & highschool Under 18

William of san antonio, texas usa asks...

In a recent high school match a player was given a red card for tripping another player. The player was only shown a red. The player had not received any other yellows in the match. I am a certified ref and I was taught that you had to show both a yellow and a red. I was also told that you can only contest the red card when the proper procedure was not followed. Is this true? Does our player have a chance at playing in the next game if we complain?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Not in Texas - the UIL (University Interscholastic League) does not allow appeals to decisions of the referee in high school.

A yellow and a red together are for specific situations - when a player has received two cautions in the same game, and acts which delay the restart of play excessively. The player is out of the game, but his team does not play short.

A red card for tripping says to me the player was guilty of violent conduct or serious foul play - meaning the trip endangered the safety of the opponent. That is a straight red, no replacement and the player does not play that game, or the next (local district rules may alter the suspension making it longer, but not shorter).

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The only time you must show a yellow card before showing a red card is when the player is being cautioned for the trip and it's a second cautionable offence - or, the player commits a sending off offence after the cautionable offence.

Any other time a player can certainly be shown a straight red card if a foul is committed using excessive force or brutality or otherwise endangers the safety of the opponent.

Even if it's his first foul of the match.

Sounds like you have no basis for complaint and the referee has, in fact, followed procedure.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The only way - and apparently in TX it won't matter - you would have a leg to stand on is if the referee admitted to your team that the player did not commit serious foul play or violent conduct but still disqualified the player (straight red card).

Remember that in HS serious foul play includes the 'last man' scenario which is 'denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity by committing an offense punishable by a free kick.' Often such fouls may appear minor but are mandated disqualifications because of the result of the foul.