Question Number: 23534

Character, Attitude and Control 6/22/2010

RE: competive/semi pro Adult

Michael of point pleasant, nj usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23498

I find it hard to believe that the code of ethics requires us to not consider what the 'mechanics' of the head referee were lacking in an attempt to better ourselves as referees.

I do not find it difficult to believe that such a code of ethics is designed to restrict any discussion which might place a referee in a less than desirable light due to their decisions on the field.

BTW, you will notice that in the replays Donovan no more than starts his kicking action when the whistle appears to be blown for the foul.

If that is accurate then the foul must have occurred before the ball was put in play and if true the awarding of the kick to slovenia would appear to be in direct conflict with my understanding of the rules.

It has since been made public that FIFA instructed the referees to stop/control the scrums on corners and free kicks and I believe the official in this case didn't want to give a penalty kick for all the obvious holding fouls on the US players and instead chose to find fault with the attacking team.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Michael
I was very interested in a comment made by Clint Dempsey and I quote '' Before the tournament, they told us that any type of holding on corners is a penalty, any type of grabbing around a player is a penalty. So when we get to the game, that's not what's going on," he said . "So you have to adapt." ''
Now what does 'you have to adapt' mean. it means to me that the referee allowed a lot of pushing, pulling, dragging throughout the game and players then decided that there was a good chance that a foul may not be punished in these situations. Then to the players' surprise or perhaps not the referee makes a call at the end based on what he seen with perhaps the history of what has gone on before very fresh in his thinking. If no goal was scored the match ends with probably both sides content enough. However when it ends in a disallowed goal then not so easy.
So what is the message here for referees. To me it is about 'setting out the stall' early as to what is acceptable or not early in the game and then remaining consistent throughout. What happened in the USA v Slovenia game at the end was more akin to a rugby scrum than a soccer match. Clearly players took their cue from what went on before.

I also think that these situation are not being dealt with properly thoughout the soccer world and just not at this level and it is a problem for the game. In Europe UEFA has advised it referees and I quote
"" Holding in the penalty area
While holding outside the penalty area is being punished quite consistently, especially in cases where a promising attack is stopped, illegal use of hands/arms inside the penalty area has become increasingly apparent and is not being dealt with appropriately. This is particularly true prior to the taking of corner kicks and attacking free kicks near to goal.
Referees must:
# apply the instructions given in previous courses more stringently. They should be pro-active prior to the taking of corner kicks / attacking free kicks near goal and should be clearly seen to be taking preventative action.
# deal very firmly with any further illegal use of the arms / hands. If this happens before the ball is in play, disciplinary sanctions should be administered. However, in clear cases of holding / pushing after the ball is in play referees are expected to award a penalty kick (for an offence by a defender) or a free kick (for an offence by an attacker) in addition to possible further disciplinary sanctions.""

However I have yet to see very many penalties awarded and in every game so far I have seen fouls go unpunished in the penalty area that would be clearly punished outside.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

No foul can take place when the ball is not in play. Only misconduct can occur at that point in time. Whatever it was that the referee saw must have either continued past the time the ball was kicked, in which case a foul could then be called, or he saw something the moment the ball was kicked.

The mechanics of the referee indicated it was a foul against the US, since the goal didn't count, and the kick was given to Slovenia - that is the only conclusion that can be drawn. Could he have been more demonstrative? Of course. Is it required? No, but it is possible he made an indication not captured by the cameras as far as direction goes.

We all have formed personal opinions based on what we have seen and heard. That is normal. But unless or until the referee or FIFA on his behalf makes it known, we will never know for sure.