Question Number: 30393

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/8/2016

RE: Competitive Adult

Brandt of Bend, OR United States asks...

I was involved in an unfortunate situation in a recent men's outdoor league game. I was fouled by an opposing player and after the foul, words were exchanged. The opposing player and I were face to face when I pushed him away in the chest as the referee stepped between us. As we moved away the opposing player threw a punch that hit me in the cheek and eye. It was blatant and directly in front of the center referee. I did not retaliate in any way following the punch as his teammates pulled him away. The player was immediately red carded and sent off. The official then gave me a yellow card for making contact with the other player by pushing him. A few minutes later as we were waiting for the player to exit the field the center official approached me and then red carded me stating that I had instigated the situation and was therefore being sent off. I confirmed with him that I was not being given a second yellow card but rather being given a straight red card. I would think interpretation in this situation has a lot do to with the officials discretion and there is unlikely a hard and fast rule to follow. I am appealing the red card with our league official. My issue is that I was given a yellow card for pushing the player out of my face. Under the rule book that type of contact can be interpreted as a cautionable offense so being given a yellow card is understandable. The opposing players violent, irrational response of throwing a punch should not make my cautionable act more illegal. By that logic a hard foul or intentional hand ball deemed worthy of a yellow card could be turned into a red card depending on how the 'offended' player responds. In short, fouls need to be viewed independently on their individual merit. If I had not pushed the player but still been punched would I then receive a yellow card rather than no card simply because his action was so egregious? If the referee had decided immediately to red card us both; me for pushing and my opponent for punching I would disagree vehemently but the decision would be supported by the officials interpretation of the individual acts. However to change the severity of my punishment after the fact based on the reaction of the other player does not have any merit. Your thoughts?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Brandt,

This is a weird one.
Typically your actions as you describe them would result in a yellow card. Typically facing up to an opponent like this or pushing them would simply by 'unsporting behaviour'. There is a level at which a push is worth of a red card, generall that's if it's quite hard, if it's a bit of a strike, or if the push is around the head or face.
The fact that you started the incident which saw him use violence does not mean you should receive a red card - I do agree with you on that point. Your actions are judged based on their merits, as are his.
It is permitted for the referee to change his decision given play had not restarted, but the reason he provided doesn't seem to make sense. Unless he is claiming you have acted violently or have used offensive, insulting and/or abusive language and/or gestures, then no red card offence has been committed.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brandt
As play had not restarted the referee was entitled to change his mind from a caution to a dismissal. So in law it was allowed. Was it good refereeing? That is opinion based. Certainly your reasoning and explanation is sound although ultimately the referee on the day has to make the call based on what he sees and opines. Some other factors can come to bear on the situation including perhaps an input from an assistant or indeed for that matter reflection on the decision. In these heated instances referees have all sorts of inputs. I have heard plenty of times the shout of *the player lifted his hand/s so he has to go*. Referee Wright points out the times when such action is a caution.
At the weekend I watched Referee Mike Dean with a yellow card in hand about to caution a player change his mind to a dismissal when he saw the extent of the players injury on the ground. It looked like the serious injury influenced his change of mind. Now had he actually shown the yellow I dont think he would have then have shown red.