Question Number: 35622

Law 5 - The Referee 7/17/2024

RE: rec Adult

BRIAN CASEY of Newmarket, on Canada asks...

Can a referee issue either a Red or Yellow card to a player/s after the match has ended.

Example a confrontation between two players as they leave the field of play.

Players taunting other players at the end of the game.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
Thanks for the more specific question.

A referee can take action after the final whistle and the match has ended.
Cards continue to be shown on the field of play while off the field say on the way to the changing rooms the players are informed that they are being sanctioned for misconduct. Sometimes cards in those off the field situations may be the best approach.

Now it is up to a referee to decide if the conduct merits sanction. Trash talk, low level taunting might not get to the level of a caution. The test for me is whether the same action on the field during play would result in cards.
Many times the best decision can be to leave it to the team officials, the calmer players to sort out unless it gets into the realms of violent conduct, offensive insulting and abusive including racist comments or the comments / behaviour is directed at the referee with hostility.

There can be many times when a referee is not aware of misconduct as the referee has already left and gone to the changing room and it is up to the teams to sort out any shenanigans between players.

So it is very much left to the referee to decide. I know many referees who simply make for the changing rooms after say difficult games and leave it to others to sort out any mis behaviour.
I have been to games where there has been verbals between sides with no action taken by referees. I have also seen plenty of red and yellow cards after the game has ended for violent conduct, offensive, insulting and abusive conduct including dissent.