Question Number: 26429

Mechanics 6/7/2012

RE: Comp. Adult

James of Wheaton, IL USA asks...

I was centering a U17 game last night with a younger AR and an older, but not that experienced AR.

Here is the situation: Dynamic play around midfield. I am on a line with my trailing AR since the play is close to his line. This puts me approximately 10 yards ahead of the play. Orange, who is attacking, plays a through ball. An orange player, who was in line with me and not offside runs through and is pursued by a Red Defender. Neither player touches the ball and it goes out of play for a red throw-in.

Red was allowed to substitute and right as play was about to resume with a throw-in, my near side AR puts up his flag and then points to my far-side AR who has his flag up. When I see him, he screams across the field that it was offsides.

The players were confused, the coaches were confused, and the fans were confused. Especially since no one had called attention to the flag earlier.

I wave him down, and resume with a throw-in. However, at half-time he was combatitive that 'It was offsides, but you called what you wanted.' I tried to explain to him the situation, and my reasoning, without saying flat out that he blew the call.

Is there a better way I could have handled this situation?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi James
The first issue is the missed flag. It does happen yet your positioning needs to ensure that you have the AR in view for the possible offside flag. I suspect that he did not like being overruled and maybe something was said to him by a spectator which made him combative. He may have felt ignored standing with the flag up for the full period of a substitution and again he may have been wound up by the situation. Having said all that, as the referee crew is there as a team there is no place for lack of team work and to being bellicose. An AR should not get upset about a waved down flag.
Secondly in the pre match discussion referees need to outline when the flag should be lowered or indeed that the flag should not be raised in the first place on a ball that goes out for a throw in. I make a point of explaining what I expect on offside and this is one situation that I cover as many ARs raise the flag erroneously in these situations where the ball goes out for a throw in or a goal kick etc. I also advise on the wave down of a flag and for the AR not to be get offended by this
If the AR is not prepared to listen or learn then I'm afraid there is not much you can do.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Strange one.

I try to make a habit of checking both ARs at as many stoppages as I can - particularly a lengthy one like a substitution. It's a good habit, just in case the AR is trying to call attention to an incident.

Regarding this incident, on the field I don't think there was anything else you could have done.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The AR is wrong. The flag should not have gone up. First, there was a player in onside position who might have been able to play the ball. Second, whomever the AR believed was in offside position did not participate in play. Third, once the ball went out of play for a throw-in for the defense, the flag should have come down even if the AR was correct.

You had two problems. First, the AR was not prepared to consider that he is wrong and his comments suggest that he might shut down and become passive aggressive if he is overruled. Second, you need to get the call right, and a throw-in is the correct restart.

One way to deal with this is what you do at the restart of play.
Shouting, 'good flag but we'll go with the throw-in' affirms your AR and keeps him in the game. It also provides the correct restart.

After the match, if the AR's attitude remains inflexible, I find no value in arguing. I would simply send an email to the assignor about the issue.