Question Number: 25193

Character, Attitude and Control 7/10/2011

RE: Pro Adult

Leah of Thornton, Ontario Canada asks...

Hi,
I have two questions. I recently AR'd a game. The Referee was the head of the Soccer Club that was the home team. He was also good friends with the home coach. Was this a conflict of interest? Also, after this game the Referees and the home team coach were talking about the talking back of the other team. The referee said that he knew he should of been calling more fouls. The referee had told us he would take care of the fouls. In this instance, should I have called the fouls I saw, even after he had specifically asked us ARs not to?
Thanks for your help,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The AR must follow the instructions given by the referee. Insisting on calling offenses when the referee has said not to is not assisting the game and can cause many problems. If you are uncomfortable working with this referee in these situations with this club, perhaps the most ethical thing to do is to decline the matches in the future.

While the status of the referee as a member of the governing board for the club raises ethical issues, they are not an indictment all by themselves. The fact that the referee realized there were calls that should have been made suggests he is aware of and trying hard not to allow any personal bias to affect his refereeing. It is a difficult position to be in, and one that invites exactly the type of scrutiny you wrote regarding.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I see Thornton is a smaller town outside Barrie. I don't know if Thornton has its own league or not. But it could be that it's a one-club town, and if a local referee is going to do a game, it has to be in that club. If so, then I am sure referees will try to be as fair as possible. It's that, or pay tons extra to bring in referees from the outside.

I'm not sure why a ref would tell you to not call any fouls, unless you or the other AR are very new and he wanted you to focus on offside. As Ref Maloney notes, if that's what you've been instructed, that's what you do ... sometimes resulting in leaving the center referee hanging out to dry.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Leah:

Good assistant referees follow the instruction of the center referee, even when asked to do something foolhardy. Good referees, however, do not ask their assistant referees not to call any fouls, absent very unusual circumstances.

It is not proper for a referee to accept a match assignment when there is a direct conflict of interest with one of the teams. Referees have to be very careful about the appearances when having pregame and post game discussions with coaches, particularly those you know well. Everyone is watching and the perception of neutrality is as important as the reality of neutrality.

When you are uncomfortable about a situation (instruction by the referee/questions about bias), the best course of action is to contact your assignor and discuss it with her.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Leah
It is never a good idea for referees to officiates games where there is a possible conflict of interest. No matter how impeccable the officiating can be, there is still the possibility of being accused of bias which is never good. Referee's Codes will always give advice on this and that should be followed. Assignors generally do not assign referee to games where there is potential conflict of interests. However circumstances can develop where the assignor has limited choice in available officials.
As regards the referee's instructions the AR should follow those as advised in the pre match briefing. I would certainly question any instruction that went against my better judgement before kick off, knowing what is likely to happen during play. A sort of what if questions. The normal advice is to call fouls in the AR's area of control/vicinity that is unseen by the referee.