Question Number: 34565

Mechanics 4/18/2022

RE: Adult

Ryan of Phoenix, AZ USA asks...

What is the best way to announce to players about a potential persistent offenses caution for repeated fouls on a single targeted player? Should you make a loud announcement that you want no more fouls in a short period on that player so everyone is aware that you're protecting them? Just talk to the captain?

And as for if you do end up giving a caution, does that mean that every foul on that player for some amount of time then needs to be a caution every time?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ryan
My approach was to have a public word with a number of offenders. I would do it in a way that it is seen by every player on fouls that might not be a caution yet still needs an admonishment. I might also express my displeasure so that those close to the player would also "get the message".

After a foul I would pull the offending player aside and inform the player that no further offences are to be committed and that it is up to the player to improve playing conduct. I might say that "I'm not having any more of that, Its up to you"
I might repeat that with one more player and then the next player might get a caution, That player might be unlucky and feel that they did not deserve the caution yet it is a team game and there cannot be multiple ongoing fouling without sanction.

If a foul in its own right was reckless then there is no warning just a card with an admonishment.

I always say to referees that their caution process has to be visible and strong and that it needs to sends out a strong message. Too many cautions are just a quick flash of the card which may not be seen or that the players take the card seriously when the caution process is seen as lame.

Finally I was never too concerned about announcing anything to players. If an offence merited a card it was issued to the player. On the PI one it always tended to be the same player and rarely was there a "group" approach to this. If a player was repeatedly fouled there would probably be griping from the player's team which may send out a message in its own right. A referee might hear "How many times ref " or words to that effect which would cue the strong possibility of dealing with it. In those situations it is fairly safe to say that a foul will be committed which will be a card in its own right not persistent infringement.

I recall a game a few seasons ago when a player seemed to bear the brunt of heavy challenges from opponents. I felt he was being targeted. Anyway a defender lunged in heavily on the player and I dismissed him for serious foul play. Some time later a player who was already on a caution fouled the same player recklessly. He was sent off for two yellows. I did not have any more bother after that in the game.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Ryan,

First off - don't go looking too hard for this one. In over 15 seasons of refereeing, I've never seen the need to even seriously consider this. Just because one player is fouled more than the others it doesn't necessarily mean there's any malicious group effort I need to consider - usually it's because they simply have a lot of the ball, or they manage to move their body in a manner that draws the foul a lot (ie they know they're playing against a big, physical team so they know to turn their back to their opponents a lot, knowing they'll cop a charge from behind), or some combination of the two.

If it's very clearly apparent that it's a cynical group targeting of a player, the fouls would, I'm sure, appear deliberate anyway (while 'deliberate' isn't a consideration for a card - as referees we do get a sense of when a foul is intentional - players do, and we need to be prepared to respond). So, when they are clearly deliberate, you probably won't have any trouble picking one to give a card to anyway - though you may have to be consistent on how you deal with similar fouls.

Otherwise, I'd ask the captain for a word - probably with the most recent fouling player, and explain that it looks to you that while you're not making accusations, the way he's being fouled makes it look like a team effort - and if one player appears to be targeted, you have a responsibility to protect him - so if it continues, you're going to pull the card out for fouls on that player much quicker than for anybody else.

Of course, if you do have to pull out that card - don't be surprised if that team then screams for a card for any 'minor' foul that looks similar - or, the moment one of their players is fouled for a couple of times.

That's why I said don't go looking too hard for these ones - if it comes up, it'll want to be very, very obvious what's happening to prevent those problems from arising. And if it's that obvious, there's a fair chance they're borderline anyway so you might consider whether you're best suited to just deal with it as a reckless tackle.

Bear in mind that a card for Team PI is going to be something nobody at that field has ever seen before. Now, unlike some referees, I don't advocate against giving the surprise or misunderstood card - but if it's going to be something that unusual, that surprising - then it should be something you really need to give, and ideally you want it to stand out as an unusual situation that you've dealt with.

Almost certainly, you'll never see this - not with enough certainty or frequency to step in harshly (and I almost guarantee that somebody will cross the line into a reckless or SPA foul anyway).

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ryan,
best way to interact is likely to be what your character & confidence allow you. There are times to laugh, and smile but also times to be stern and unwavering.
Body language, your tone. verbal inflection. whistle sounds, eye contact, getting acknowledgment. No one can demand respect but you can show it and offer others a reason to return it!

The skilled attacking player, proficient and dangerous with the ball at their feet often draws fouls by the overmatched or beaten defenders simply as a matter of them following the unspoken defending principle, the ball goes by or player goes by, but never both.
They attempt to win the ball and failing that, they do what is necessary to stop the player.

Usually, it's a player's choice more than a team-targeted dynamic, not to say that it does not occur! I think it best to judge the severity of each interaction knowing that in a match. accumulative CMIs (critical match incidents) and your handling of basic procedures CAN have an impact on further match developments!

(3)excessive (self-explanatory intolerable let everyone know

(2)reckless (keep in mind you are sending a message whenever you show a card and offer some public condemnation/warning that a bar is being set make it a noticeable procedure

(1)careless, ( you can still offer a public admonishment as a further warning), but IF you notice a hint of USB whereby the frequency and randomness of those tackles lend credence to a targeted approach?

In a u-19 woman's match, I said out loud, directed to the captain so that all could hear as the skilled attacker was once again picking themselves up from the deck. "I have specifically noticed Blue 15 seems to have a great deal of trouble staying on their feet whenever a red player is around. It would be best if I did not have to notice it again!" You can point out places on the FOP where in the past few minutes we were stopped for similar tackles against this particular player using your fingers as in s count 1 2 3. I do the same when I warn a defender they are on my radar for their behavior at excessive foul counts in short periods of time. I hold the opinion it shows both the teams you are paying attention. Your awareness & concern for their safety and your foul recognition may help calm down the one team and prevent retaliation from the other.
Cheers

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