Question Number: 23958

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/18/2010

RE: Competitive High School

Liz of Eugene, 161 United States asks...

My team and I were playing another team last week, and the officiating was the worst I have seen. A team mate and a girl from the other team both went for a header. The girl from the other team went down holder her face, as she was hurt. The ref ran over and pulled aside my teammate and said she intentionally head butted the girl in the face. Both my team and the opposing team thought this was a ridiculous accusation. The fans and parents were jeering and cussing at my teammate. The ref gave her a yellow card. As she was running off the field, a group of boys were making sexual gestures and saying sexual remarks at her. They had been doing this the whole game. She made a bad choice and gave them a gesture in return. The ref saw, and gave her a red card. After the game, the player went to the other teams coaches and apologized for her actions, and the coaches were on her side that those boys were out of line. She went to go speak to the refs, but they had left the minute the game ended. Later, she found out the ref was filing for the red, or gave her a hard red. She had been dealing with the jeering the whole game and neither the athletic director or the ref put a stop to the sexual remarks and gestures. Should my teammate take the story to the high school sports association and fight the red card or no?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

I'm sorry that no one put a stop to the spectators. Players should not have to put up with such nonsense. At a minimum, the referees should have requested that the home team's athletic director control or remove these boys.

Understanding the reason for your teammate's action, however, does not change the fact that she used an offensive gesture and, thus, the decision to show the red card was permitted under NFHS rules.

Your coach likely will discuss the circumstances with your school's athletic director and the AD with the league. For high school, the best place to deal with such issues is at your school and let them address it with the league.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Where was the stadium administrator? The referee should have been made aware of the remarks early on in the game, and if necessary, the game stopped (clock), the administrator located, and the problem solved.

Your coach should write to the referee assignor and relate the facts from your tale of woe, and ask that the referee be assessed, and offered guidance.

In the future, make sure the referee knows what is going on, that your coach knows what is going on, and whatever happens, do not take matters into one's own hands!!