Question Number: 32411

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/29/2018

RE: Rec Under 16

Eric of Phila, PA US asks...

hello Mr. Ref,

In our last game, PK was awarded to our team. While the ref is getting all the players outside the box, their goalie is dancing, pretending to be spanking someone, and bending over acting as if to moon our pk taker. Their entire team is yelling for all to hear 'woop woop' before, during and after the PK. I'm now in a disagreement with the league that yellows and/or reds should have been handed out for taunting and player misconduct. League's telling me I'm wrong because not in rule 14. if I'm wrong, I'm resigning from coaching.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Eric
It is not in Law 14 because it is in Law 12. The goalkeeper should have been cautioned for unsporting behaviour and any other player that was shouting to verbally distract a player during play or at a restart or for acting in a manner that *shows a lack of respect for the game*. The second caution reason covers a multitude of misconduct. Indeed if the referee felt that the gestures / shouts were offensive, insulting and abusive a red card can be shown under Law12.
If the penalty kick was missed then the kick should have been retaken if the shouting happened between the whistle to take the kick and the actual kick itself.
There is no place for this in the game and the referee has the powers to act here with cards under the Laws.
I might point out that taunting is a specific NFHS rule. It is not specifically in the Laws yet it is there in a variety of ways as already mentioned. Perhaps the real failing here is the referee who failed to deal adequately with this situation. These types of situations left unchecked can lead to retribution and game control issues. I also place a great deal of the responsibility on coaching staff of teams in these matters as coaching staff should not be allowing this type of behaviour to happen or should it happen take appropriate action including an apology.
The Underage game is about more than playing and winning and includes showing RESPECT and FAIRPLAY. These are not just slogans or words yet principles by which the game should be played.
In a recent question I mentioned an incident in KFTPM involving Joe Hart in an U21 European Championship semi final involving England and Sweden in 2009 . Hart was involved in inappropriate conduct on the lead up to the first kick and to use the cricket term he was engaged in sledging. The referee asked him to desist and then cautioned him for USB on a repeat which meant he missed the final as a result.
The referee dealt with it under Law 12 and correctly addressed inappropriate unsporting conduct. UEFA referee Cuneyt Cakir is a no nonsense official who acts sternly with misconduct. England appealed on the basis it was not in KFTPM yet correctly fell on deaf ears as it is a Law 12 matter.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Eric,
if indeed your LEAGUE says this then sorry to say your LEAGUE sucks!

NO doubt some displays of immature behavior can be overlooked as trifling but if they do cross the lines into USB or unsporting behaviour absolutely they can be cautioned and shown a yellow card.

Taunting is more of a NFHS rule whereas FIFA /IFAB then USB is the catch all ''shows a lack of respect for the game.

Law 12 deals with MISCONDUCT which occurs both during active play and BEFORE play restarts. Verbal distractors aimed at intimidation and antics designed to do the same are very much cautionable. If the PK is being taken during this menagerie and the PK misses retake & caution those responsible.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Eric,
In a game played under the IFAB's Laws of the Game, the referee has the power to caution players for unsporting behaviour. In this situation it could be for verbally distracting an opponent or, possibly more appropriately here, for acting in a manner that ''shows a lack of respect for the game.''

It would not normally lead to a red card unless the referee felt the players were guilty of offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures. While I suppose you could argue that this behaviour was insulting, the bar is set fairly high for such offences and I would be surprised to see players sent off for this kind of thing. Under NFHS rules players can be shown a red card for taunting but as this was a rec game, I'm guessing it was more likely being played according to IFAB laws.