Question Number: 29419

Mechanics 5/18/2015

RE: Select Under 12

Steve Fehlhaber of Westerville, OH USA asks...

I was an AR at tournament game, and a head coach was walking the borderline of dissent throughout the game, questioning calls, etc. After the game, while the two teams were shaking hands, the head coach continued his tirade towards the center referee, 'you are the worst referee ever' and other comments similar while signing the game card.

Does the referee still have the ability to issue a dissent to the head coach at that point in time?

At what point does a referee's authority begin and end for any given soccer match?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

After the match talk. I have seen my share of it. Yes the referee can include the details in the game report. The best thing to do here is to walk away. My approach when a coach is mad after the game is very simple. I tell the coach..that I enjoyed the game and did my best. Then I just walk away. You should report any bad behavior after the game on the match report. But making blanket statements probably wont be very efficient. Finally, the referees authority begins upon arrival to the field and until he leaves the field. So yes, you are in control from the beginning warm ups to the end hand shakes.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
The referee has control / authority of the game from the moment he arrives to the moment he leaves the ground. Generally the referees involvement with teams is connected with the time before kick off and the leaving of the field of play. The referee can report any matters connected with the game in his match report. If someone is being reported it is a good idea to tell them that within the bounds of safety and appropriateness.
In your example the referee would be entitled to inform the coach that he is being reported for misconduct and the facts included in the match report. No official has to take abuse from anyone.
Does these type of incidents get reported. Well it depends on the tolerance level of the referee. If the referee has a high threshold then it probably has to be pretty severe to get reported. I have been with referees who have tolerated more abuse than I would have accepted and it was not reported. So be it and that was his choice. I have experienced it the other way as well.
Personally I just say to the coach that I did my best and obviously that was not good enough for him and just walk away. Listening to tirades is part of what the complainant wants or perhaps responding to it negatively. Blanking it or avoiding it is in my opinion a much more effective strategy if it can be managed that way. It is not always possible.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Steve,
A referee has authority to deal with irresponsible conduct of players and officials of the team from when he arrives to when he leaves the pitch . The manner in HOW might differ slightly. I included in a match report a coach who flung his ashtray into the parking lot as he drove away. When he was censured by the review committee for his overall match conduct the information turned over to the municipality field park superintendent the coach was fined for littering. I doubt he expected that from his tirade lol

It is unwise to debate on the pitch, an irresponsible, loud, aggressive irritated coach. Some legitimate dissent can be used as a pipeline of communication if you might indeed be missing some match affecting antics in behind the pla.y I try to generally ignore, if it is not possible to ignore, if the comments create a fallout effect or become ridiculous or affect the safety or well being of the participants the officials or players
(1) I will interrupt with some form of please act reasonable request Ok I get it you are unhappy but lets agree to disagree and get on with it.
(2) Still on going? I asked you I now am ...telling you...! Act responsible! Your actions will now be included in the match report. This would be similar to being cautioned and shown a yellow card
(3) Failure to act reasonably? Sir you are being expelled. Failure to to remove yourself will result in the match being abandoned . All actions taken are reported to the disciplinary committee for review. I do inquire if there is an acceptable adult or coach to take over as some youth leagues require a RESPONSIBLE adult on the touch lines. This is similar to being shown the red card and sent off.

The point is unless the competition authorities have altered FIFA LOTG we do not show cards to coaches . I believe high school, and I do know of some community leagues that permit their officials to show cards to anyone on the team as an official and even to adults on the touchlines. It is a hassle to deal with abuse, generally you have match reports then follow up phone calls, possible hearings to attend so if the episode is great enough for me to endure the hassle it takes some doing!

Cheers