Question Number: 25163

Law 5 - The Referee 7/3/2011

RE: competitive Under 14

aw of ridgefield, CT usa asks...

Can a referee terminate or abandon a match after a match has been completed? Let me explain. I had just completed officiating a U13 girls tournament match and had observed the team handshakes when a parent from the winning team confronted me, on the field, in a rather intimidating fashion. I had ruled his daughter ineligible to play because she was wearing a bubble-wrapped cast (dangerous to her and opponents Law 4). He insisted I apologize to his daughter, shouting at me from close range. I never get into discussions with a parent, so I just turned away and cell phoned tournament officials. He continued to stalk me around the field as I was trying to complete this call. I have learned from this site (thank you), that a great way to deal with unruly parents is to not confront them, but to have the team manager deal with them, the manager explaining that if their is not a change in behavior, or if the abusive fan doesn't leave the premises, that the match can be terminated or abandoned. Could this have been a strategy I could have used in this instance? The threat of a possible forfeit of a tournament match may have diffused the situation, but I don't know if I had the right to do this since the match was completed. Your thoughts on this are greatly appreciated.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

No. After the match, however, the referee can and should report the incident to the league. The league has many options to deal with spectator, team and club.

But, the best option after the match is usually for the referee team to leave (together). Let the other officials get between the unruly fans and the object of their ire. Ask coach or manager to assist you in dealing with a parent. If there is any concern about personal safety, call the police.

One method I've used to deal with a persistent, though civil parent, is to explain that there is paperwork to be done after the match, and that you would be able to discuss the matter with them in fifteen minutes. (I've never had anyone wait that long.)

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

No, it is impossible to abandon or terminate a game that is finished the regular way.

Write up a report and submit it immediately to the relevant authorities. As Ref Wickham notes, another way to deal with this is to ask them to wait while you finish paperwork, in which time you will be in the tent with support, and I would ask them their name, politely.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
As the game has been completed it is not now possible to abandon or terminate the game.
In this case I would simply leave the field of play not engaging with the person.
Clearly each case is different and the referee has to make a call on personal safety while exiting the field.
I might enlist the help of club officials and perhaps remind them that this behaviour will be reported to the competition organisers who may take a very dim view about the club's future participation in the competition. That can focus minds.
The matter needs to be reported to the relevant authority

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Had this cretin done this to you before the match had properly ended you could have abandoned the match but since it was already over, you can't terminate. You CAN:
1. Call the tournament officials immediately
2. SInce he was threatening you, call 911
3. Write a glowing report elucidating the exemplary behavior of this outstanding parent.
4. Nominate him for Father Of The Year
5. When no one is looking, clean this fool's clock ending with a nicely placed side kick to the outside of one of his knees. While he is writhing on the ground in agony, remind him NEVER to stalk a referee again. (Not really. Just kidding. When will parents, especially dads, learn to keep their mouths shut?)

As my fellow referees note, after a match, have your ARs meet you at the center circle and leave as a TEAM. There is safety in numbers

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

See Question: 25181