Question Number: 32442

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/11/2018

RE: Competitive Under 14

Aaron Speca of Virginia Beach, VA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32436

As a follow up to this situation, I wonder how you would feel about a caution for the foul and then a second caution for unsporting behavior for the 'defender walking away laughing'?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
Yes that is an option open to a referee although it is more likely to sway my first card decision rather than a second card. My preference is to file away the smart alec behaviour and take zero tolerance from there on with the player.
Like Referee Grove I am unsure of a caution for this. While USB covers a multitude there are plenty of situations where a referee might not like behaviour such as poor attitude yet unlikely to merit a card. As I said zero tolerance on tactical fouls, dissent, delaying the restart, etc is more likely to occur.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Aaron,
sounds like the better decision might have been to red card the initial challenge given how it is described instead of only a caution. But attitudes where players show disregard or a lack of respect can certainly trigger another caution . As my esteemed colleagues notes, we sort of perk up when we notice things that draw our attention.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Aaron,
That would be a possibility although I'm not 100% sure about a caution for laughing - it's mean-spirited and unnecessary but I'm struggling a little to fit it into the criteria for USB. Other referees might possibly see it as showing a lack of respect for the game, however. It does tend to underline the cynical nature of the challenge though, and although you can't make a call in real time based on what comes afterwards, if you could use hindsight you might think that maybe a red would have been a not unreasonable decision for the original foul.