Question Number: 23609

League Specific 7/4/2010

RE: Under 19

Steven of Sydney, Nsw Australia asks...

Regarding what spectators say. They can say what they like as they are a spectator ? Including when the coach is sent to the stands?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Sure they can say what they want. But when fans become so unruly that the game cannot continue, the referee will abandon the match.

Fan comments at the youth level especially can have a serious effect on the game. When comments cross the line from displeasure to affecting the game, the referee has to take control of the situation. Many youth leagues recognize this and make the coach responsible for the behavior of the fans. If the coach can or will not control them, the coach could be dismissed or the game abandoned. Dismiss the coach and the assistant, and most leagues will require the game to be ended as there is no registered adult supervision for the players.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Saying what you like is not quite the same as suffering the consequences when you said what you liked. For instance, if a spectator is threatening the health and safety of the referee or her crew, the police should be called, and the spectator removed. Fortunately, that is a rare enough situation.

In many youth games, the spectators are right on the touchline, and often get in the way and in the ears of the ARs. They can and do say many inappropriate things, some of which must be addressed if the game is to continue. The preferred method is to have the coach or other spectators deal with the miscreant, but if necessary, there being no cooperation from the spectator or coach, the game will be abandoned. That's a shame for the kids, and more work for the referee, as then reports must be filed, etc.

I've told a spectator at a large tournament to leave my field because he was shouting ugly things at one team and exhorting the other team to commit mayhem (he was not apparently attached to either team, however). I basically told him he could leave or security would escort him off. We had paused the game to deal with this, and resumed without further incident.

Coaches or fans who scream nefarious instructions to team members, and who in the process tell the players to do nasty things to the other team don't deserve to stay and should be promptly dismissed. If they refuse to leave, the game is over, pure and simple. It is just a game, and taking chances not contemplated by the Laws of the Game is not allowed.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Steven
It all depends on the level of the game. Certainly at the professional level with thousands of shouting spectators the referee is not in any position to do anything nor will he want to unless it steps into the area of racial abuse or there is a safety concern for the players, referee and his crew, officials etc. In those situations the referee is entitled to abandon the game and report the facts to the relevant competition authority.
However at the level of underage, parks, recreational etc the referee can take action against a spectator/s that is affecting the game. He can ask the home clubs officials/stewards to ask the person/s to stop the behaviour. If it persists he can ask for the removal of that person/s and if that does not happen he can abandon the game.
If a coach has been removed from the field of play and he goes into the stand or another area and persists with the behaviour he can and should be asked to leave. If the coach fails to heed that request the match is abandoned