Question Number: 35619

Law 5 - The Referee 7/16/2024

RE: rec Adult

BRIAN CASEY of Newmarket, on Canada asks...

Can a Referee issue a Red or Yellow card after the game has ended??.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
Yes a referee has the authority to take disciplinary action against anyone listed on the match card from the moment of entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving the field of play after the match ends (including kicks from the penalty mark).

If, before entering the field of play at the start of the match, a player commits a sending-off offence, the referee has the authority to prevent the player taking part in the match (see Law 3.6) the referee will report any other misconduct.

After the game has ended the referee can and should take disciplinary action against players who commit misconduct such as violent conduct, dissent, using offensive insulting and abusive language etc. Just because the game has ended does not allow player to behave in an irresponsible manner without any sanction.

On the field of play and surrounds cards are displayed while off the field cards are not shown with the offender/s simply told that they are being reported for misconduct.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Brian,
there are circumstances that require cards to be shown both, before the match has began and after, the match has concluded. In cases prior to taking the FOP players would occasionally engage in either USB or violent conduct on their way onto the field as they left their dressing rooms. This VC was sufficient to allow the referee to show a red card and prevent them from taking part in the upcoming match. The team could still field 11 players just that a substitute off the roster would take the sent off player's spot. The team did NOT loose any of their substitution opportunities only that they had 1 less person to choose from.

What is rather unusual if the act was only USB, thus CAUTIONABLE show a yellow card, in fact, NO card is shown! EVEN though the action itself is recorded as misconduct in the match report! AND! further more! That, no card caution USB action does NOT Count towards any additional, two cautions = red card, as it would in regulation play. Thus a referee could warn the player he is being reported in the match report for USB BEFORE the match begins but that player still takes the FOP as a starter. In that match should that player later be cautioned and shown the yellow card it is counted as 1 . If that player was cautioned again ONLY then is a red card shown for 2 cautions in the same match and he is sent off reducing his team by a player!

https://youtu.be/k9Yf3t9BCi0
France Portugal 2000 euro semi final 14.57

As to after the match has concluded! Th authority of the referee is sacrosanct until he & player are off the pitch. One of the most memorable actions was a referee branding red cards AFTER a match concluded, trying to protect his assistants from being abused by the losing team who mobbed him after the final whistle. France Portugal 2000 euro semi final

It is not 100% necessary to do this as players could be leaving or exiting into a parking lot just that the misconduct itself is duly recorded. There were some huge fines and sanctions after the 2000 match! But even back then referees had the authority to do so. You can not just go nuts once a whistle sounds.
Cheers