Question Number: 26928

Mechanics 10/22/2012

RE: Rec Adult

Dean of Sechelt, BC Canada asks...

A serious foul was committed by a player near the end of a match. Referee and assistant referees did not see the foul. Teammate of player reported foul to assisstant referee who then called over referee who then issued red card. Is this permissable?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

A referee should never make a decision this serious based on what a player has told him (it's a little different to player admitting he got the last touch on the ball, for instance, before it went out). We may believe that this player is telling the truth, considering it's a teammate, but perhaps he's simply trying to get his team's worst player suspended for an upcoming important match, perhaps his view of the incident isn't a great one and he hasn't seen what he think he saw (referees, not players, are trained and practiced in identifying and judging fouls. You really do see things differently when you're wearing the uniform of the 3rd team!).

Also, can you imagine how it would go if he appealed? You'd be forced to admit that none of the referees saw the incident, and the red card was issued on the advice of another player.

He'd almost certainly get off.

So basically, if nobody on the refereeing team saw the incident, then it didn't happen.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dean
This would be extremely rare and I have never come across it. I seen players admit to no contact on a called foul and declining a free kick but never a team mate reporting VC or SFP to the officials.
I assume from your description it was not a foul in play but violent conduct behind the officials' backs. Every referee has encountered such VC situations with a very strong 'feeling' of what happened. If the incident is not seen by the officials the referee cannot take any action as his report will have to be truthful as to what was seen. While we might like to take action we just have to accept that it was missed with heightened attention on the player from thereon. If a referee did not see the incident with the player sent off and as a result the disciplinary panel decision is challenged or appealed then that will be probably result in the player getting off. A disciplinary panel would be extremely surprised to read that a sending off was not seen by any of the referee crew and that the sending off was at the behest of a player albeit a team mate. If the team wants to take action then it should remove the player from the field of play either by substitution or play short and I have seen that happen also.
In your question you note that it was recreational. In those games which may not be sanctioned under the auspices of an association and if the players on the day want the referee to take action then so be it. The referee should simply ask the team to substitute the player. It is their game only and no further sanction will be taken against the player as it is more than likely not reported as it is not affiliated.
Of course what can happen is that the AR has seen the incident, may be a tad unsure of what transpired yet once the incident is confirmed by a team mate that can be sufficient for the AR to act by informing the CR.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It is improper for the referee to sendoff a player based only on a complaint from a player. But, a complaint often is enough for the referee to investigate.

I once saw a player slap her opponent. As I approached to deal with her misconduct, she complained that the opponent had grabbed her breast.

I hadn't seen that.

So, I went to the opponent and said, why did you grab her breast?
The opponent said, 'because she called me a . .. . .' The confession was enough for me to act. Both players were sent off, and justice was done.

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

See Question: 27556