Question Number: 24915

Law 5 - The Referee 5/10/2011

RE: Rec High School

Larry Phelps of Newburgh, NY USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24899

Guys, excellent feedback, and thank you for the very quick response. I have been beating myself up for the past few days because of the way the game ended. Both teams have a long history of rivalry and a 'draw' might have been a more acceptable outcome.

Yes i was out of position (straight up behind play) and my AR did not offer much help during that particular play. To compound the situation, when I signaled for the DFK to the Yellow team by pointing up field and not also indicating where the restart was to be, both players and spectators thought I was indicating a goal. Figure the reaction all around when I had to correct them all.

In retrospect, given the run of play, the timing of the goal, physical play, etc, I say to myself that 'common sense' should apply - let the goal stand since a draw would have been more palatable than a controversial win. Any parting thoughts on my reflections?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Larry
A bit of advice. Never allow a decision to be influenced by what is palatable when it is indeed a foul. Okay if it is trifling or doubtful the referee can let something slide but not when a clear foul has been committed and it has been seen by a match official.
Also don't beat yourself up by the way the game ended. The attacker only scored the 'goal' because he committed a foul. Had the foul not been committed there is every chance that the result would not have changed anyway.
The learning point is the mechanics of the use of ARs, the pre match briefing and getting the clear message across that a foul has been committed.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

IMO, you suggest exactly the wrong lesson. Good referees must have courage. In some parts of the world, the life of a referee may be endangered by making the right call. We only have to deal with bad words. Courage is easier here. When you know the right call, make it even if it is unpopular. Explain why to the captains or coaches. Be confident and they will respect you (even if they say bad things about your mother.)

I think the 'default' positions when unsure are different. Some we recite often (all doubts on offside are resolved in favor of not offside); others can serve us well.

If you are unsure whether the ball fully crossed the goal line,
It didn't.

If you are unsure if a foul occurred inside the penalty area,
It didn't.

If you are unsure if a foul occurred at all,
It didn't.

If you are not sure and your assistant referee isn't sure, the referee must guess - with confidence and poise - - and make a decision. When you have to guess, guess in favor of the defense.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No No No No Larry!! You did just fine. What you suggest now is just wrong. Your AR told you a foul occurred that allowed a goal. You had the guts to look bad and wave off the goal. Why back track now and do something stupid like allow a goal you know was not valid just because it would have made things easier?
You showed that you had courage and were ethical enough to do the right thing despite bad circumstances. Take the list Ref Wickham has in his answer and memorize it.
And if Pete's Hot Dog place is still there go have a couple Kraut Dogs and a sausage and peppers sandwich for me please.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I called a PK in a U19 game this weekend, which was scored. Turned out the final score was 3-2, in favor of the team with the PK. After the game, one of the players on the losing team came up to me and offered his hand, as he said, 'Thanks for giving them their first goal.' Then he pulled back his hand as I reached out in conditioned response. As he walked away, he said he wasn't going to shake my hand.

Beside his lack of class, he had it wrong. The PK was because a member of his team pushed an opponent to the ground in the penalty area. I didn't cause that; I simply applied the Laws to the situation.

One maybe could argue that the opponent fell down too easily - yes, the team had a propensity for overacting. But the fact of the matter is that was there was a push, and it was in the penalty area. Talk to your teammate about giving them the first goal, not me.