Question Number: 26576

Law 5 - The Referee 7/26/2012

RE: Competitive Under 19

PINAR PAPUTCU of Ottawa, ON Canada asks...

Hello,
I have a some simple questions. Is a game official 'The God' ? Is a good player must be Punished ? Nobody can speak during and after game? Who will check game officials? How can they play a teenagers feelings and the future so easly? This not the first time and will not the first. Every game we are facing with the game officials faults. Yes we are respect they can make mistakes but this is misconduct.
I am a very upset mom. Last nigth my son get a red card from two yellow.(Game was 6-1. My son also scored 4 super goals that many players' parents... can not imagine.) One of them is a wrong decision (clear corner) and my son only spoke by himself. The second was the worst. The coach pulled him off last 5 min. And the game over. They were going hand shaking with a teammate. When they were walking and speaking with each other the game official came and show him second yellow and red card suddenly. Everybody shocked except the other teams parents. They all clapped and laughed as usual beginning of the game. They influenced some of the game official's decisions during game.
The team members could not celebrate the game score and my son is very bad mood now.
We have video records all the game and after game. If you want I can forward it for your evaluation.
I will go for this unfair situation where ever it goes. I will be appreciated if you can give your opinion.
Thanks in advance
Pinar

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Pinar:

I can appreciate that you are upset. But, my experience is that parents and spectators often are unaware of what the players actually did or said on their field. We on this board know even less about the facts - - even a snippet from a video doesn't provide context.

But, the best thing for a parent to do when faced with your situation is to go through the coach and the club to have the matter reviewed locally. Your son's club can address with the league and the referees association whether decisions of the referee conform to the laws of the game, whether the referee needs additional training or experience, and what, if anything, should be the consequences to the player who is shown a red card.

Disciplinary committees will usually require a formal protest, and will hear from all sides. Video is often compelling evidence.

If you really want to do something to make it better, consider becoming a referee yourself or encourage your son to do so. There are many who became a referee because they didn't like what they saw happening at their kids' matches.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Pinar
Referees do not act in isolation and they are subject to the same disciplinary rigours as players, coaches etc. Referees act to a code and alleged misconduct by a referee is a very serious matter carrying serious sanctions and the matter is covered by a set procedure. The way to deal with this is for your son's team to decide on the merits of lodging a formal protest / complaint with the competition organisers.
The Disciplinary committee will read the referee's match report which will include a detailed report of both cautions, hear both sides of the protest / complaint and then make a decision based on the evidence it hears. I have sat on such bodies and if the committee hears compelling evidence there is no issue about changing a decision or taking further action.
I suspect what has happened here is that if your son's speaking to himself was in a loud manner and perhaps included a comment on the incorrect decision by the referee then that is dissent. It makes no difference if it is spoken to oneself or a team mate. Once it is loud enough for the referee and players to hear and it questions a decision that is a cautionable offence.
Now something happened after the final whistle and obviously it caused the referee to issue a 2nd caution. The referee's report will clearly state why the 2nd caution was issued.
I might add that referees do not send off players off lightly and certainly not after the final whistle. The game is over and the decision will includes lengthy report writing and further administration which will be examined by the competition organisers. However further dissent either by word or gesture aimed at the referee again even spoken to a team mate is also dissent which is a cautionable offence. Some referees have a higher tolerance levels but when players test the referee's patience through dissent or unsporting behaviour towards an opponent they run the risk of further sanction.
As regards the reaction of spectators that is of no concern to the referee. In a recent ladies game I had occasion to cautions two players in the last minute of the game. When I issued the 1st caution the player was jeered and the decision clapped by the opponents' supporters. I continued with the caution for the opponent as I fully intended to do. That 2nd caution obviously did not attract the same reaction from the same group!!
I also had occasion recently to caution a youth player for a comment made to an opponent after a goal was scored by the player's team. There was no need for the unsporting comment and I heard clearly what was said. The player's coach asked me after the game as to why I cautioned the player as it was not obvious to him and I told him. He fully accepted my word when I told him what was said and he told me that he would deal with it within the club own discipline procedures.