Question Number: 24153

League Specific 10/13/2010

RE: Under 15

peter Wilson of South Pasadena, CA USA asks...

If a player or coach is ejected from a AYSO BU14 game for dissent to a referee, what is the punishment?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Dissent? From a player, dissent is a caution, and unless it was the player's second caution, he does not have to leave the game.

If it was the coach, he will be warned once not to question calls.

An ejection - more properly termed a sending off for a player and a dismissal for the coach - happens if the player or coach uses offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures. I might add here it is the referee's judgment that counts as to whether the language meets the test for dissent or OFFINABUS.

If the game is stopped to caution or send off the player, the restart is an IDFK for the opponents wherever the incident occurred. If the game is stopped to deal with the coach, the restart (assuming the coach has an assistant coach or other adult to take over if he is dismissed) will be a dropped ball wherever the ball was when play was stopped.

As for punishment beyond the cards, that is up to the league in which the team plays. They all have slightly different standards and bans for such behavior.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
The match referee makes a full report of the dismissal of the coach to the competition organisers. Usually a disciplinary panel will meet and discuss the contents of the report and the reasons for the dismissal. Sanctions range from a fine, a warning to future conduct to a touchline ban to a ground/stadium ban for a period of games depending on the severity of the offence and whether it was first time or a repeat. A serious breach may involve a hearing of the case in front of the panel.