Question Number: 24748

Law 5 - The Referee 3/29/2011

RE: Rec Adult

Sherisse of Duarte, ca usa asks...

Hello,

I was wondering if you knew what happens if/when a team decides to walk off the field because they don't agree with the ref calls, what should happen? They were winning but they thought the calls were so bad that they said to the other team that they can't stand it and you can have the win.

They said they don't want to come back if the same 2 refs are officiating.

We've had the usual complaints on refs, but these two refs are both experienced.

Thank you!!
Sherisse

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

This will be up to the governing authority (league or tournament). The game is abandoned due to too few players; the referee will submit a report to the league explaining why the game was abandoned.

Leagues usually take a dim view of this behavior. Typical sanctions are forfeiting the game and fines. The team could be banned from the league.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Sherisse
If a team refuses to play then the game is abandoned and the referee sends a report to the competition authority outlining the facts.
Usually that decision by a team not to continue playing results in a forfeiture and perhaps a fine. Failure to play a fixture will have the same result. That is a matter entirely for the disciplinary body of the League
The team in these situations usually make a complaint to the competition authority which is then passed to the local refereeing body. If as you say both referee are experienced and their performances meet the required standard then the complaint will be dismissed. It will then be a matter for the team if they do not wish to continue in the League when it is informed that the said referees can officiate its games. Teams cannot pick and choose who officiates their games.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee should abandon the match, and report the details to the league.
The league alone will decide what punishment is appropriate.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I do hope the referees were not running a dual? A dual is where there are only two referees, both with whistles and both on the field. That is not allowed in USSF.
The league assignor could be in very hot water if they assigned a dual on a USSF game, and the referees as well.

But that wasn't your question! If the team refuses to play, no sense in rounding up wild horses to drag them back. The game is abandoned, and a report is filed with the score, the time the game was abandoned and the reason. It is then up to the competition authority to decide what needs to happen next.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 24759