Question Number: 24132

Character, Attitude and Control 10/11/2010

RE: Rec Under 13

DougB of Irvine, Ca USA asks...

I have a question regarding the changing of a call made by a referee.

I know generally that the referee has the final say, without any ifs ands or buts.

Situation. A U12 game, a little bit aggressive by both sides, but no control issues. Blue team is ahead considerably.

Ball goes over goal line on Red's side of the field. This was near the corner, far side from AR. I thought it was last touched by Red, so I call for a corner kick. I called it with confidence, even though this particular call I was unsure of.

The blue player tells me 'The ball went off me, it should be the other team's ball.'

I thought it was good sportsmanship. I had not yet restarted play. It would not affect the outcome of the game. I changed my call and awarded a goal kick for the Red team.

Since it was near the end of the game, and there was not a chance for the red team to recover, I felt it would not affect the outcome of the game, but I also know that
generally as a referee we should not change our decision except possibly by the comments of our AR or 4th official.

I felt the players were right, but I did not want to put myself in a position of 'giving in' to the players.

What is the right way to handle this type of situation?

As always, thanks so much for your answer.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

You did well, and handled this correctly. There was no reason to doubt that blue was telling the truth - - it cost his team a corner kick. I hope you thanked him for his integrity. Imagine what it would say to him if you ignored his courage because the referee team didn't see what happened.

When unsure, the actions of the players inform the referee's judgment. If the attacker acts like she was the last to kick the ball, she probably was. If the defender quickly moves back to defend against a corner kick, she probably touched it last.

We want always to get the right decision. Its nice when it happens through character.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

With younger players, you are usually safe to act upon their admission. It was good sportsmanship for her to admit she touched it last. You should thank her for her honesty.

Just don't let it give you problems with older players. Someone might say that the ball went off him early in the game, and you accept it. Later in the game you make a call for the opponents and he claims, 'I never touched it!' Now what? You believed him earlier; do you believe him now?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Doug
At this level and in the circumstances you made the 'best' decision. It is refreshing sometimes to get honesty from a player and it should be acknowledged.
Some times though players don't feel the last touch or don't see what we see and sometimes players at older levels do not have the proper motive for their so called honesty.
Just a tip. When you are unsure just delay the decision slightly to see what the reaction of the players is. There can be tell tale signs of what they are thinking. A few matches ago a ball went out of what I thought was off a defender and my first reaction was corner. Attacker moves away and GK goes to get the ball for a GK!! Sure helped my call.