Question Number: 29595

Mechanics 8/10/2015

Nate of Spokane, Washington United States asks...

If a foul occurs that both causes an injury and warrants a card, should I show the card first or look at the injured player first?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Nate,
safety first. You can usually tell if you hear a scream, a bone break or simply observe the reckless or excessive nature of what you witnessed has your attention. You are waving in the support staff almost as your whistle is sounding. The need to show a card, particularly to head off retaliation can be as apparent as the nose on your face or can be set aside and sort out with your ARs, who and what and why. At times it helps to immediately isolate and draw out the culprit to quickly send them off on the red sleigh. Getting those involved separated, calming things down with presence and support from ARS using eye contact and any predetermined signal or if direct consultation is required gather in to discuss quietly facing the players as other AR watch and take notes.

Situational awareness is your grasp of the temperament and attitude of a match at any given moment or decision you need to render. A simple, 'You ok? Can you continue?' to avoid then being forced to leave for treatment but in youth we err to dry a few tears instead of bandaging all tears.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nate
The best advice is to get treatment on for the player first and that may require that the injured player being asked if he requires it. It might also be obvious that treatment is not required in which case the caution procedure is dealt with immediately.
In the treatment scenario just ensure that team mates do not decide to take retribution against the offender while your focus is elsewhere or that the identity of the player to be cautioned is missed though your focus being elsewhere.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It depends on the nature of the injury and the age/skill of the players.

But, when you need to tend to the injury first, take the card out of your pocket and hold it away from your body like an AR points for a corner kick. If everyone knows a card is coming (particularly if it is a red card), the referee can often prevent retaliation and fights as the enforcers try to respond in kind to the player who hurt their teammate..

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Remember day 1 of your entry level clinic. Player safety is the main concern. Deal with injury first and then card.