Question Number: 29764

Law 5 - The Referee 10/1/2015

RE: Amateur Adult

George of Parangarecutirimicuaro, CA Sacratomato asks...

Over the weekend, my colleagues and I were discussing worst case scenarios for a referee and they posed a question that had me stumped. I was wondering if I can get the panels input.

The CR calls a foul that merits a card. Upon searching for his cards, the CR notices he accidentally dropped his cards in the 'referee area.' How does CR proceed?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

He borrows the card that his AR or 4th Official is carrying. Oh, wait ...

Yes, many times AR's do not have a full set of ref equipment with them. They really should have whistle, cards, wallet, pencil, etc. But that doesn't always happen at amateur level games.

If this was a game 'that mattered' (pros, national teams, even a State Cup match) then the AR would have a set of cards.

At an amateur game, the ref would simply inform the player that he was being cautioned, and put it in the game report. He would admit having lost his cards. Even though the Laws say the procedure is to inform the player and show the card, at a lower-level game if part of the procedure is missed, that should not invalidate the sanction against the player.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi George,
I carry two sets of cards! I complete set in my book (red and yellow) were I record all data and a separate red card in my back pocket and a yellow card in my front shirt pocket. Plus I carry tons of gear in the truck so being without cards is just not possible unless I was robbed. lol So chances are slim for me! I have never had it happen although I have seen referees drop cards on the field as they were running even seen players steal them right out of a few hands in a dissenting or abusive manner. If a referee did find themselves cardless the only option is to announce to the players and coaches from both teams of the call and colour of the card and then record it! The CR certainly could ask his ARs or officials if they had a spare set. In fact during the pregame an equipment check of your and their preparedness to officiate ie take over if you are hurt, there should be EVERYTHING one needs twice over! It is likely that IF a referee had no cards but still cautioned or sent off players without showing cards the league would consider the punishment the same as if the cards were shown as long as the referee informed the teams and recorded the data in the match report .
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi George,

Cautioning, and the showing of a card, are separate but related events. The laws state that a 'player is cautioned/sent from the field of play and shown the yellow/red card'

I'll emphasise the word 'and' in that. It means there are 2 parts to the one process. The caution, and the showing of the yellow card. Not showing the yellow card doesn't mean there's no caution. The card is purely a communication tool.

So you'd have to verbally advise player's that they've been cautioned (I'd specifically state 'yellow card' too, just to avoid any confusion). You may even want to raise your arm mimicking the showing of a card, but that's up to you.

Frequently matches are refereed with unofficial referees who wouldn't have cards. These 'club referees' still have the power to caution and send off players - not having physical cards doesn't mean that players are allowed to do anything they like.

At any level, every neutral official - AR and 4th official, even the lowest junior grades - should be bringing the full kit onto the field - watches, whistles, cards, notebooks, pens, even a coin.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi George
*Be prepared* is the motto of the scouts. So before going out on to the field of play the referee should check that he has everything needed to officiate. In referee crew situations assistants should also carry everything the same as the referee just in case they are called on either to officiate or to provide the referee with say a card, pen, whistle etc. When Im with assistants or as an assistant I go through a check much like the captain in a pre flight check list. Whistles, yellow cards, red cards, pens, record sheet, coins etc are all called out. Thankfully it has never happened to me in a competitive game.
Now what to do if it does happen and it does even at the highest level. There are a number of options
If the referee has assistants every chances that they will have cards. Here is Referee Mark Clattenburg making the mistake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoNY11wNvkU
He holds up the game and goes across to the 4th official and retrieves a card.
Referee Hernandez does the same here and retrieves a card from his AR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjrl7zOVjwA
In this clip Referee Peter Walton realises that he has no yellow card and he pretends to show a card after telling the player that he was cautioned
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCG3qJFta2U
I think these happen because perhaps a kit change or sometimes referees can get too focussed on other pre match matters rather than the basics.
If the referee is on his own then he just has to use the words and inform the player verbally that he has been cautioned. That requires I believe an exaggerated cautioning process with the player called aside and spoken to. I do know that on certain occasions when I have ONLY spoken to players that opponents have questioned why it is not a 2nd yellow when they are cautioned. They don't pay much heed to the actual card being shown so the Referee Walton *ruse* sort of uses that mentality. Without the camera would it have been picked up that there was no card in the hand??
I might add that if a card is not shown that it does not mean that the sanction does not still apply.
This is a quote from the FA
** Although the Law requires a referee to show a yellow card to a player as part of the cautioning procedure, failure to do so does not mean that a caution has not been administered and the player concerned will be dealt with in accordance with the laid-down disciplinary procedures.**