Question Number: 39

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

RE: Metro Under 14

James of Dallas, Texas USA asks...

What is the proper course of action when a player is caught by the referee using obsene language on the field. During a U-14 boys game, the goalie cursed at a player on the other team when he made a hard rush toward the goalie. Is the referee supposed to red card the goalie?

Answer provided by Referee glenn

Law 12 is pretty clear on this. The language is unacceptable for the game and to never be tolerated. There is only one action to be taken by the referee. Send him/her off.

Answer provided by Referee Stacy Kalstrom

Law XII states clearly that a player is to be sent off if he/she "uses offensive, insulting or abusive language." Send them off.

Answer provided by Referee miller

You'll notice that Law 12 doesn't list or specify the words that are not allowed. Law 12 doesn't even use the term "obscene". Any verbal effort to abuse, insult, or offend another individual can be penalized by a Red Card. .Sometimes, players, when upset with themselves for a self-perceved mistake, will say s---, or f--- in exasperation. I would remind the player not to use profanity but I certainly wouldn't caution him, or send him off. .There are times when a player will use profanity to another in an exclamatory way (e.g., "What the hell was that"?) but without the apparent intent to insult or abuse the other person. I don't believe Law 12 meant for us to send off a player for that use of language. You might want to warn him not to repeat that language, and caution him for dissent if he does.