Question Number: 30427

Law 5 - The Referee 5/19/2016

RE: Competetive Under 14

Wesley Goddard of Slough, Berkshire United Kingdom asks...

If a referee shows a player a RED Card, but then at the end of the match states to coach & player and other team players / parents I will not be submitting it to the League as opposition coach has asked not to, but then 3 weeks later it seems the referee has put the card/ report in (dated 3 weeks after the fixture)
Is there a time limit to submit cards to the Local FA ?
The League Chairman has pressured the referee into submitting the card as, they are aware I am moving my team from the League and moving to another.

I look forward to hearing your opinion

Regards

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Wesley
A referee should be reporting all cautions / dismissal to the competition organisers. No referee has the right to NOT report cautions / sendings off and it is a serious matter not to do so. Indeed it is also considered a serious offence to request a referee to not report.
Generally the rule is that the report must be made within two days not including Sunday. So it should certainly be done promptly.
I would be surprised if it was not reported within the rule period as to not do so would then highlight his error in reporting three weeks late? The referee would need a very good reason for this as his failure to not report in a timely fashion would be viewed very seriously. It could likely that the sending off report has taken time to be dealt with by discipline. I am aware of situations where a referee might say one thing about a sending off yet do something different after reflecting further the next day or having spoken to a colleague. I once had occasion to ring a colleague about a rumour of not reporting a red card. He told me that he felt that on reflection that the 2nd yellow was harsh. I told him that he must report the natter and include his comments which he did. It is up to the League to decide to accept the referees advice or not.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Wesley,
I find it very unlikely that there is a conspiracy to punish your team as you intend on changing leagues.

Ultimately, your player should have been suspended. It's just happened later rather than sooner.
Of course a referee not submitting a yellow or red card is severe misconduct (in the UK, a manager asking the referee not to submit a card is also severe misconduct and must be reported), and he should be dealt with appropriately - and for all you know he may well have been. He obviously can't hide the fact that he submitted the report late.