Question Number: 25658

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/24/2011

RE: Competitive Under 15

Brandon of Grayslake, IL USA asks...

Hi guys, I recently played a game against a very physical, and a bit dirty team. Our goalkeeper was red carded for a rough challenge outside of his own box. Although it was a hard challenge, it didn't deserve a red, maybe only a yellow card. after the game (we won 3-2) the entire opposing team was yelling at the refs, and using a lot of swears too. The ref red carded the coach and 2 players, but as one of them walked by the ref, he punched me in the gut and said 'Mother-F***er'. the ref noticed but didn't take action. Is there a way to report the referee to the league? because he lost control of that game, and it cost us 2 injuries and a red card to our best player.

thanks Guys!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Your club division manager or president should know who to contact regarding a referee's performance.

If you decide to pursue a report, you will have to present more information than you have given here. You say that the ref lost control of the game, but gave no evidence for that. In fact, you state that the ref acted correctly by sending off players and the coach at the end of the game for offensive, insulting or abusive language.

Sending off your goalkeeper might have been for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. The offense is not based on the severity of the foul, but on the fact that a goal-scoring opportunity was taken away by the foul.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Ho Brandon
This is a matter for your club to pursue with the appropriate league authorities, if it so wishes.
As regards the dismissal of your goalkeeper that is entirely a matter for the referee and the League has no authority in that regard. It does decide what further punishment the goalkeeper will receive for being dismissed in a game based on the referee's report.
As regards his control of the game that can be difficult in tense fiesty games. I can assure you that the referee would much rather not have to deal with these problems.
As regard the end of game incidents the referee here did take action against the coach and two players. As regards the punching incident by the dismissed player the referee can only send off a player once and it may be incorrect to say that no action will be taken. It is not his responsibility for security at the game and that is a matter for the home club, team officials etc. If he has seen the incident there is every likelihood that he has taken the steps open to him which is when there is further misconduct by a dismissed player, the referee includes the additional details in his sending off report. So this player can expect further heavy sanction for his continued misconduct.
My experience of these situations is that much of the the fault IMO rests with both teams and team officials. Team officials should have exerted more control over the players indeed seperating them in a very difficult situation. Once the game is over it is over and no amount of retribution is going to change anything. If both team shook hands and walked away none of this would have arisen.
So please look at how both teams behaved and created this situation before looking to single out the referee as the 'bad guy'. I expect he did his very best in difficult circumstances.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee in his report certainly described what the sent off player said and did to you. That will earn him a multiple game suspension at the least. The referee can only issue 1 red card to any player.

Your keeper may have been sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity not for a foul involving excessive force.

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

See Question: 25667