Question Number: 24611

Law 5 - The Referee 2/23/2011

RE: select Under 19

tony of north vancouver, bc canada asks...

Does a referee have the authority to send off a team official or spectator for criticsm of a call without issueing a yellow card first? No abusive or insulting language was used.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tony
Cards are never shown to team officials or spectators. Cards are only shown to players and substitutes. Technical staff are simply informed of the referee's decision.
If a referee believes that a team official is not acting in a responsible manner in the technical area then he can remove him. There is no need for a warning to be issued although most referees will probably give a warning before taking action.
Having said that when a team official makes some unsatisfactory comment to a referee during the game the referee can take grave exception to the tone, manner, words used without the use of abusive or insulting words and remove the person immediately without warning.

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Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee has the power to dismiss a team official for irresponsible behavior. No warning is required, but a warning often will resolve the problem. No cards are shown.

Referees have no power directly with spectators. But, they have the power to abandon the match unless X leaves sight and sound of the field. That usually causes the spectator to choose to leave. Under the laws of the game, the coach is not responsible for the conduct of the spectators. Many leagues, however, adopt that notion by a local rule.

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Team officials may be asked to leave. Cards are never shown to team officials.

The referee has no direct authority over spectators. They may abandon the match due to fan abuse. At youth level of play, they may go to the coach of the parent and have the coach ask the parent to leave but the parent may refuse in which case the referee may refuse to restart the game. after a certain amount of time, the referee may abandon the match

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