Question Number: 31908

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/15/2017

RE: Competitive Under 19

Nikhil M of Overland Park, KS United States asks...

Hello,

I recently refereed a U-19 competitive girls match with lots of complaining and dissent throughout the game. At one point, a player on Team 'A' verbally dissented while running past me close to the center circle. Team 'B' had possession further on down the field along the touchline. I checked to see whether Team B had a promising attack building, but the player on the ball was being contained well by 2 defensive players. I blew play dead because it was a serious act of dissent and I wanted to assert authority. I cautioned the appropriate player, but I was unsure on how to restart play. I ended up giving Team B an indirect free kick at the spot of the dissent by the player on Team A, which Team B wanted, even though it moved them back up the field rather than towards their opponents' goal.

What are your thoughts on how the restart should have been handled?

Thank you in advance!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Nikhil,
kudos to you mate you were spot on!

You stopped play for MISCONDUCT only, it was not a FOUL!. The LOTG state if you do so it is an INDFK restart at the location of the misconduct in favour of their opposition !

The location of the misconduct was where she was lipping off thus the restart location for the INDFK occurs at that location.
You wisely considered if the attacking team had a realistic chance of an attack or crack at goal decided they did not but the lippy player was creating match management issues an thusly you acted!
Whether she was forcing you to act THEN rather then wait for a natural stoppage! I once again point out Your Match. Your Decision. Your Reputation!

That said in the post game be sure you review the match in its entirety with your fellow officials and seek out the causes of the decisions. Praise yourself and crew for having the courage to act on your gut instincts as well. A post match review is NOT a NEGATIVE it is a learning tool. Reward yourself for getting most of the decisions right rather than beat yourself up over something you might wish you approached differently! As I say good game fellows we will do even better next time always room for improvement ! We can learn that our own actions can disappoint player expecting we protect them or offer a fair match creating disagreement. We certainly do not TOLERATE intolerable dissent or ANY abuse it is just that at times we can see where we initially perhaps allowed too much physical play or positioned too far away on a critical match incident or made a few erroneous decisions thinking we were correct responded in anger over something that needed a quieter tone which may have inadvertently created dissenting attitudes. You can only do your best as the result is not your concern their safety and adherence to the LOTG is!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nikhil
Spot on. The restart is an IDFK from the location of the offence which is where the player dissented at you. You also had the presence to wait to see if Team B was going to be disadvantaged by the call.
So well done on that.