Question Number: 27252

Law 5 - The Referee 3/16/2013

RE: Competitive Under 17

Megan of Dartmouth, NS Canada asks...

A while back, I was watching a Wigan/Fulham EPL match. At one point, two players (one from each team) both went to slide for a ball, and ended up bringing down the ref with the tackle. I'm pretty sure everyone in the soccer community has seen the clip at some point. What I am wondering is, the ref sent both players off after the tackle. It was clearly an accident, if anything the ref was partially at fault for being right in the middle of the play. Was the sending off the right choice on the ref's part?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Megan
I thought it was only referees that had bad eyesight or missed key incidents in the game!!
The referee in this case was Lee Probert and the two players were Steve Sidwell Fulham and Ben Watson, Wigan. Disciplinary action was not taken against either player for the incident and in fact the referee saw the funny side of it along with his assistant referee Daren Cann of WC final fame with the referee showing himself a 'red card' while getting treatment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4urL1JvGUB8
Steve Sidwell was cautioned in the 70th minute for a foul challenge while Watson was not cautioned during the game.
As regards the incident the referee was unfortunate that he just so happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time due to the way play unfolded. The replay showed that both players were committed to winning the ball and I would be unhappy with both player's tackles here. From what I can see Watson had his studs showing while Sidwell is committed as well and makes contact with the referee. Had the referee not been there I think that disciplinary action could be taken against both.
As it turned out the referee got treatment and play resumed.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The 2 red cards were in jest. Shows even we referees have a sense of humor. Go to the youtube video link Ref McHugh provides. The commentary is pretty funny also.