Question Number: 31061

Character, Attitude and Control 11/28/2016

RE: Competitive Adult

Jack of Sydney, New South Wales Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 31059

I'm interested to hear any commentary that the panel may have on the level of dissent displayed in the video provided by Michael, particularly early on. I realise that a higher level of dissent is tolerated in professional matches, but this seems exceptionally high.

As a supplementary question, do you believe that the logo displayed on the field at 10:34 in the video contravenes the prohibition on virtual advertising on the field of play outlined in Law 1.12?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Jack,
In this league things are often very volatile no matter who. when or where! Dissent is everywhere but passions down south seem unusually closer to the surface. I see a great deal of raw emotion displayed rather than calculated dissent, no matter they grasp the reasons for or against a decision. For lack of a better term they really feel the game. That said if I was refereeing there would be some heated exchanges given I would START cautioning then it either shuts down or IF it became abusive I start the red sleigh rides. Then we return to the match or I get chased off the pitch, your pick.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jack
This looks to me like a video overlay using IT rather than a marking shone on to the field of play during play. In which case it is not an issue. If it happened during a game it would be a problem.
My association UEFA   has stated that it is determined to stop dissent and the harassment of referees on and off the pitch. With this in mind, referees are expected to maintain respect and to punish behaviour which is designed to undermine the referees authority.
According to the Laws of the Game, players who show dissent to the referee, assistant referee etc by word or action must be given a yellow card.
Players express dissent or undermine the referee"s authority in many ways, such as:
# by gestures or by running towards the referee or assistant referee in protest
# by crowding around the referee (mass protest / mobbing) - in this case UEFA expects that at least one player is given a yellow card
# by verbally or physically demanding a yellow card for an opponent.
In the example shown one of the four should have been booked and I would have gone with Red #9 or Red #17 both of whom were involved earlier with the assistant on a debate about a challenge. Certainly #17 came the greater distance to get involved.
In a recent game I turned away a penalty call and a player ran shouting towards me for the penalty. I stopped the game, cautioned him for dissent and restarted with an IDFK. I know it is more difficult to do this when the call is given such as in this case although that does not excuse the blatant mobbing of officials as shown in the clip.