Question Number: 25060

Law 5 - The Referee 6/4/2011

RE: Rec Under 15

Peter of Stockton, CA USA asks...

Hi

My son was involved in an incident today where he was brought down quite badly from behind. After the game he told me that he wanted to speak to the Referee regarding the non-call. I told him that he should just leave the matter and that the Referee could do nothing anyway. My son told me that in his every so humble opinion the referee could do something because a referee can hand out a red card after a game. So, ,y question is, can a referee hand out a card for something that happened during a game (ie I know that a card can come for after game behavior). I have seen a referee recind a card after the game but I do not think that the opposite is true - in fcat I do not think a referee should recind a card either but that is a seperate matter ;-)

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
Your advice to your son was good. The referee cannot retrospectively hand out disciplinary cards after the game. In fact when play restarted after the next stoppage that was the end of the matter. The only exceptions are in the case of violent conduct that is unseen where an AR maintains his raised flag until it is seen and at the highest level video evidence on VC can be used retrospectively to take disciplinary action.
As an aside referees must not rescind cards after the game. That is a very serious breach of refereeing regulations and a referee could be dismissed for this action.
As regards the non call there can be many reasons for this ranging from the referee did not see it to he assumed the tackler won the ball fairly.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A referee can deal with misconduct that happens after the game. Cards are shown if the ref and players are still on the field or leaving its surrounds; else the incident is reported to the competition authority (and that report is just as valid as if a card was shown during the game).

But the ref does not have authority to retroactively issue red or yellow cards for incidents that happened during the game. The ref has only up until a restart to change his mind on fouls, cautions and dismissals, based on the referee realising that he was wrong or information given to him by assistant referees or fourth officials.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

A referee may give a red card for misconduct that occurs after the game but he cannot give one after the game for something that happened during the game.Referees may not rescind cards that were issued during the game after the game ends. Competition authorities may do this and often do.

That said, I see no problem with your son politely asking this referee or any referee to please explain a call or no call.