Question Number: 25799

Law 5 - The Referee 12/1/2011

RE: competitive Under 17

mac of tacoma, wa usa asks...

what are the guidlines for a dismissal from a match. i was sent off and the center ref could not tell me why he was doing so. the ar on the other side of the pitch stopped the match and told the center to send me off. there was no foul or abusive language involved in the entire match. and the center ref gave no prior warnings. how is this possible

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

A coach may be dismissed for irresponsible behavior. The match report should indicate the details. The laws do not define responsible behavior, but dismissal almost always involves conduct that is persistent, personal, public, or profane. Each referee has a different level of tolerance.

The referee may dismiss without giving a prior warning, but that usually is something that is the result of the exact nature of the conduct or to whom the conduct is directed. Some words, gestures or conduct require an immediate response. E.g., anyone who throws a water bottle or chair must be dealt with immediately.

My approach is to be immediate and unforgiving when an adult coach uses demeaning language or gestures toward a teenage assistant referee. I am far more likely to resolve dissent that is directed at me with a private chat and then a formal warning.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

There must have been some conduct that caused the AR to tell the referee to dismiss you. If you truly don't know what you did, ask to see the referee's report.

It is quite likely that the referee would not take time during the game to explain it to you when you were dismissed. When a coach is dismissed or a player sent off is not the best time to have a discussion.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mac
The referee has no desire in dismissing anyone from a game and it is not done lightly. That only occurs when someone behaves in an irresponsible manner or he breaches the Laws which requires a sending off.
Usually a referee when he is dismissing someone may not want to engage in a discussion and no explanation is required.
The Laws of the Game allows for technical staff to offer tactical advice only from the technical area. Constant questioning of calls, unhelpful comments, remarks directed at/about match officials with or without foul language, repeatedly moving out of the technical area can be deemed as irresponsible behaviour and the person can be dismissed without warning. That is a matter entirely for the referee on the day.
What does happen is that a great many referee 'tolerate' unsatisfactory behaviour by not taking any action or by giving repeated warnings which is abused. In this case it would appear that the referee crew had a low threshold for unsatisfactory behaviour and they were perfectly entitled within the Laws of the game to take the action they did.
The matter will be reported in the match report and any disciplinary decision of the referee can be appealed to the League authority.