Question Number: 32466

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/23/2018

RE: rec Adult

gary of nashua, nh usa asks...

During a game, I gave a caution for UB (player was getting aggressive with another for an alleged push- I never saw it-was in good position). About 10 seconds later, despite the YC, player followed opponent and loudly yelled vulgarity at him from him 20 yards away (Shown straight red). The way I reported it my game report was a YC for UB and a direct red for Abusive language (offinabus). Team challenged this scenario to me at the end of game saying it was the wrong way to issue the cards. Any thoughts?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Gary
I do not know what their complaint is other than annoyance for no card for the initial push which kicked it all off and/ or I suspect as well that it is to do with the suspension sanction for a straight red card as opposed to a two yellow sending off. It can be the difference between a one game ban compared to a two / three game ban.
From what you describe I probably would have cautioned both players. I had somewhat of a similar situation recently and I knew the *retaliation* was for a reason. Even if I did not see what kicked it off clearly I knew that *justice* required a sanction on both players. In my instance the retaliator was suggesting VC as the reason for his strong push which I did not see yet I knew there was some form of *contact* given how the retaliation happened. From experience I knew the way that it kicked off that it was done so for a clear reason. Anyway the two cards put an end to any further shenanigans as both players knew they were on a yellow from that moment on. It also quelled any notion of lack of justice by the team of the retaliator. It meant that if I needed to intervene again between both players with cautions that both were going not just one.
So you were perfectly entitled and correct to caution for unsporting behaviour and as the player paid no heed to that warning he was going to be dismissed either way for a second yellow or for a straight red card.
As to the sending off report it needs to spell out the offensive, insulting and abusive language used by the player.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Gary,
sometime we are the creators of our own destruction. If you fail to see the player do the deed the other claims was the reason they did theirs which you caught. You can only look them in the eye and say sorry I missed it but I saw you . If I had seen this earlier I would have called it as well.

When you notice aggressive behavior you can often translate it to retaliation so it does pay to carefully watch the antics in behind play. You can also step up or into the fray immediately. DO we have a problem? Did I miss something? It might head off a need to caution or card. If you show you are aware they are unhappy. Once you card the individual . If there are substitute options in non restricted matches it is a great idea to take 5 on the bench. In high school they implemented a ten minute auto sit out for a caution on this very reasoning CALM DOWN.
The fact the anger & frustration boiled over, it is still the responsibility of players to act responsibly. . If they just can not get off the angry wagon then the red sleigh is their next option be it for a 2nd yellow for dissent or USB or direct red if as you were so convinced it was the offensive, insulting and abusive language used by the player.
AS long as you word the report I initially cautioned for USB. The player persisted in haranguing the opponent & was then sent off with a direct red for offensive, insulting and abusive language.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Gary,
There is nothing wrong with issuing a yellow card for USB followed by a red card for OFFINABUS. I can't actually see what the team are trying to say when they talk about 'the wrong way to issue cards.'

If you miss the beginning of an incident and turn around to see two players, both adopting an aggressive attitude with each other, then a yellow card for both is often the best outcome in terms of game management but if as you say, you had a good view of the incident, saw no push by the one player and an aggressive attitude only from the other then a yellow card for just that player seems perfectly reasonable to me.

Teams will always find something to complain about when they don't like the decisions the referee has made and in many (if not most) cases these complaints are entirely unjustified. That certainly seems to be the case in this scenario.

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