Question Number: 33417

Other 6/6/2019

RE: Competitive Adult

Larry Mittleman of Olney, Maryland United States asks...

A U15 player, apparently out of frustration breaks the corner flag pole across his knee and throws both sections off the field. No other player is within 30 yards and the player does not say anything while doing it.
Is this a caution or a send off?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Larry,
It is unusual to see players so upset as to engage in such conduct? Not that we can always prevent a player from doing what they want, no matter how silly or unsporting. When it is possible to do so, a referee aware of the match temperament, anticipating conflicts, trying to head off explosions could seek to mitigate these outbursts. I have even as AR prevented players from trying to move the flags with simple verbal intervention.

In cases where a frustrated player has uprooted one to take a corner, say the wind maybe blowing it into the arc we probably caution for USB and replace it back. To do as you suggest though will most likely be considered an act of violence although VC is generally aimed at a player or person or even a dog which is a red card send off. The idea it could be considered as an abusive gesture or a double caution certainly has merit but I do not see how this is not violent conduct? Aside from trying to continue the match down a player, the flag would be replaced, if not by a similar flag something to fill in the hole and be safe. I have seen flags that are made of soft plastic, whippy plastic & or metal or wood and even a corner cone or kit bag used when no correct flags were around. Moving the AR to cover might be plausible. Getting the match in by playing with only a token marker may save the day ,you must report the circumstances in the match report and let those in charge arrive at a final decision. .

A professional match likely does not get played without correct safe flags but in recreational grassroots allowances to get the game in using something other than a correct flag might not result in a replay .
For what it is worth I have seen matches played with very UNSAFE flags even at the professional level. I watched a match between Canada & Salvador where a player grabbed it bent it and it nearly took out the eye of the opposing player as it whipped back up. In a youth match they had a hard ground pitch surface so they manufactured a set of metal frame stacks to place a wooded pole into the ground. A sliding player would be stripped of flesh should they have slide into the pole base.I refused to conduct the match with them on the FOP.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Larry,
It's an interesting one. As referees, sometimes we need to think about the spirit of the game, or our gut feeling on 'what's right', and then work out how the LOTG applies.

What I mean is, my first thought is that a player deliberately vandalising the field equipment has absolutely no place on the field any more. So where can we find a RC here?

It doesn't clearly fit anywhere - but the LOTG aren't designed to cover every possible scenario. If it's very clear that we can't apply a red card here, we're stuck.

VC was my first thought, but looking at the LOTG there's a definition of VC which states it must be against a person. Personally, I don't think that definition can be ignored - so VC is excluded here (in my view, that definition might be enough to get the player off on appeal)

What else? Well.....the player has committed 2 actions, haven't they? Pulling out the flag (justifying USB by itself), then breaking it. I'd be happy for any referee to issue 2 yellow cards here.

While it's unusual to issue 2 yellow cards for something that's effectively one action, this is also an unusual situation. So, we have to think outside of what's normal in order to apply what we know to be the right decision. The 2YC is certainly permissible in law - while all part of one larger action, there were 2 distinct actions here.

I'd also submit a separate incident report about this one.

Moving forwards in the game - you obviously can't play with that flag. If another flag can't be sourced, you play with one less flag (and include that in your report). If you have an AR, then this shouldn't impact the game too much - but if you play without any AR there, be aware it may make some decisions very difficult. If I was running with a single AR up the other end, I would seriously consider relocating them to this line to help me with close corner/TI cases. Again, very unusual to do that - but it's an unusual situation. Not necessarily saying I would, but I'd consider it.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Larry
I saw a pro player recently break a corner flag by kicking it at a goal celebration. I do not think that the player was sanctioned for his action and as it was a Pro game a spare flag was made available immediately.
Now for me a referee could easily justify a caution here for unsporting behaviour or delaying the restart. I personally would find it very difficult to find a reason to dismiss the player for the action on its own.
However a referee could if he so wished send off the player for using an offensive, insulting or abusive gesture. Here is an example although it is at the extreme end of the scale.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XJAg_TNTArI
Another referee might decide differently probably unsure how an outlier event not directly covered should be treated unde the LotG.
As to breaking a corner flag I personally would leave it up to each individual referee based on the actual circumstances which could be a caution, a double caution or a straight red card for OFFINABUS. I could also probably see maybe nothing other than a report of misconduct on te match report.
As the book states ** The Laws cannot deal with every possible situation, so where there is no direct provision in the Laws, The IFAB expects the referee to make a decision within the' ‘spirit' of the game – this often involves asking the question, 'what would football want/expect?'
That question is informed by the referees character and experiences.