Question Number: 30767

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/15/2016

RE: 6 a side league Adult

JR of Newcastle, UK asks...

I had a professional foul committed against me:
The player in question refused to leave the pitch when he was sent off. As I was preparing to take the free kick, the referee blew the final whistle as the defender was still arguing with him. Surely this is my advantage and I should have been allowed to at least take the free kick. The referee explained that the player sent off had refused to leave the pitch and time was up? Where is our team's advantage for this?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Your advantage in this is that when the referee makes his report and tells the league that the player would not leave the field, the league will not look kindly on him or his team. It is likely that they will award your team a forfeit victory. And the player's suspension could end up being longer.

I doubt the ref saying that 'time was up' meant that the full 90 minutes (or whatever time you play) had expired. Instead he meant he'd given the player enough time to leave, and since he didn't, the game was terminated/abandoned.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
While there is not enough information here if this was an affiliated competition to the FA I believe the referees would report to the League the detail of what happened here. It is a serious offence for a dismissed player to refuse to leave the field of play and it is a reason for an abandonment. Affiliated Leagues take a very negative view of such situations particularly when the game is forced to be abandoned. Loss of points would be usual sanction along with a ban.
I am not sure if that is the case here as many commercial 6 a side indoor League are non affiliated and are commercial operations only, run for profit. Certainly as you say your team was entitled to take the free kick yet that could not happen with the dismissed player still on the FOP arguing with the referee and refusing to leave.
I would also like to think that the referee did not take the easy route here by ending the game yet if there is no disciplinary procedure or follow up there is a very real danger that can happen in these type of Leagues. Also when it is commercial leagues the referees may just do the games and accept the easy route as they knows little if anything will be done nor will they themselves face any repercussions. In fact the organisers can take a dim view of referees that interfere with the smooth running of the games. There is pressure to start the next game so there is not going to be a lengthy stand off or added time to sort out these situation unlike a fully affiliated league game. You might even find that the dismissed player played in the next game due to no formal discipline procedures other than an onsite coordinator. It is for this reason that many referees do not officiate in indoor 5/6 a side Leagues. Those that do go with what the organisers want which in some circumstances can throw up undesirable situations such as this with little follow up.