Question Number: 28842

Mechanics 10/11/2014

RE: Semi-pro Adult

alex of London, United Kingdom asks...

The referee has shown the player a 2nd yellow card but is unaware that it is his 2nd yellow. He allows play to restart and the next time the ball goes out of play it is brought to his attention that the player was given his 2nd yellow. The referee then shows the player a red card and sends him off. Is this the correct decision?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alex
Yes that is the correct approach. The player has received two cautions so he must be dismissed. The referee should report the fact in his match report that the player played for x minutes before being dismissed.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It happens - referees get confused who they cautioned for a variety of good reasons. The AR should make a best effort to call the ref's attention to it before restarting play, but if that can't be done then sending off the player at the next stoppage is the correct thing to do.

As Ref McHugh notes, it should be part of the referee's report. In a game with an assessor/observer, he ref would likely be asked for an explanation of how he miscounted as well.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Alex,
We have plenty of high level examples to point out your situation is easily created .

An error from Graham Poll in the 2006 World Cup, saw Josip Simunic of Croatia get three yellow cards before being sent off.

It was a match between Croatia and Australia, and after booking Simunic in the 61st minute, Poll gave the Croatian a second yellow in the 89th minute. But he didn't show the red, and that was only produced when Simunic was booked again in the 93rd minute.

"In the 89th minute when I produced the yellow, I wrote down the right jersey number but the wrong name. I had inadvertently given the yellow to the Australian number 3, Craig Moore. This is the first time something like this has happened to me in my 26 year long career," Poll said after the game.

So if it happens to the best it likely happens to the rest! The ARs and 4th could have been more aware as well in getting the referee not to restart without getting him to realize to show the red for a 2nd caution and sending off the player

The referee could stop play immediately upon realizing the player is REQUIRED to be sent off and shown the red card rather than wait for a natural stoppage. The referee then shows the player a red card and sends him off restart with a drop ball from the ball location. If he finds out during a different stoppage then restart with that but show the red card and send off the player .The referee can only can only hope the player destined to be sent off has not created any set of circumstances where a protest might be considered. Like scoring a goal! The referee must include all circumstances in the report as there will be a grilling session lol
Cheers

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

See Question: 28851