Question Number: 27426

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/13/2013

RE: Competitive/select Under 17

Mike of Lebanon, CT USA asks...

Is it just me, or has there been a decrease in the use of yellow cards by refs? It seems that in the games I watch, both at high school and premier levels I hardly ever see a card given, even in cases I thought should warrant such. I ask this, as the negative reaction by parents, coaches, and players when I give a yellow seems disproportionate to the situation.

If I give one, or even more rare, two yellows in a game, it is an unusual event; but everyone seems to expect NO cards given. I consciously avoid cards for U12 and younger, and depend on verbal warnings, but for U14 and up, I assume they know better. Any thoughts?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
One would like to think that an increased issuing of cautions and dismissals should by its nature lead to a decrease over a period of time. The whole purpose of cards is to change behaviour. Also time of the season is important with possible suspensions looming and players may be wary of that for fear of missing important games.
Also cautions by their nature are subjective and one of the challenges facing associations is to try to bring unifromity to what is unacceptable. I have looked at many games recently and I have considered some offences as possible cautions but none were issued. I'm always mindful that the referee is in the official in charge in the centre and he is closer to the mood of the game, the reactions of players, what he believes is necessary to control the match. He also bring his personality to the game and the way that he controls the game.
At the Pro level if one looks at the UK Premier League referee card table it shows Martin Aitkinson as the referee with the highest caution rate of 3.86 per game compared to Chris Foy at 2.10 and Mark Halsey at 2.24. Now what does those stats mean. Certainly Martin Aitkinson is a FIFA badged referee who may caution for more 'technical' offences whereas Chris Foy and Mark Halsey may adopt a more lenient approach to cautions when faced with an option such as delaying the restart. It can also mean that Martin Aitkinson has been allocated more 'feisty' games such as derbies which can require more cards for control purposes. Also some referees 'talk' more to players and use cards as the last resort.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It is hard to apply standards and methods that work at the professional game to what is best in youth and amateur play. The best referees in the country can afford to take more risks because they have the experience to pull back the flow and maintain control before things get out of hand. Most referees cannot.

Professional players want less to be called and want to play through most fouls that occur in the middle third of the field. Most amateurs do not and cannot play through them.

Not calling fouls and not using cards involves risk taking - - it allows the game to flow, but it risks more fouls and greater retaliation. The questions for the referee is the same at all levels: (a) is a card needed for the players? (b) is a card needed for the Game? But the level of play will inform the answer. For most teenagers, a card is both necessary and required.