Question Number: 30857

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/4/2016

RE: Adult

Colin Edenborough of Swindon , England asks...

A referee issues a yellow card for a free kick outside the area a minute later after lining up the wall calls the player over and says to him I have changed my mind I think it should had been a red card so then shows a red card and sends the player off is this correct.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Colin
It is correct in Law yet poor mechanics by the referee and unusual for it to happen. As play has not restarted or the game ended a referee may change any decision that he makes including the issue of a caution or a dismissal.
I watched in an English Championship League game Referee Mike Dean about to caution a player and he had the yellow card out by his side having taken the card from his side pocket. The injured player who had been fouled remonstrated with the referee showing him the serious wound on his shin. Referee Mike Dean put away the yellow card and produced a red card for the foul from his hip pocket. Now he did not show the yellow card yet it was a clear change of mind IMO which he was entitled to do.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5s5CsiiibZ8&t=2m31s
I doubt though had he shown the yellow card that he would have changed his mind to a red. It would not be because he could not do that just that it look unprofessional and makes the referee look capricious making unpredictable decisions and perhaps easily swayed by players, reactions etc.
I have seen referees go the other way by reducing a shown red card to a yellow card after some consideration including input from an assistant. Interestingly that always receives less criticism yet the principle is the same.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Colin,

As per the Laws of the Game, a referee is entitled to change a decision unless ''play has restarted or the referee has signalled the end of the first or second half (including extra time) and left the field of play or terminated the match.''

Changing an already-issued yellow card to a red after a significant delay is unusual though, and could lead to the impression that the referee has been influenced by something that happened after the foul rather than the offence itself.

For instance, Ref McHugh mentions an incident where PGMOL official Mike Dean appeared to change his mind about which colour card to issue after seeing the extent of the injury caused to a player by a foul tackle. Some referees expressed the opinion that the level of sanction should not be decided 'after the fact' in this way since a relatively innocuous challenge can lead to a serious injury while a challenge that is fully deserving of a dismissal may cause almost no damage.

Bottom line though, is that yes, the referee is within his rights to do this if he chooses.