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Soccer Referee Questions on Soccer Rules

You-Call-It 25

Question...

We are 35 minutes into an intense match where the referee has stopped play after a deliberate handling and proceeds to caution #14 yellow for the infraction awarding a PK !
#7 yellow upset, runs over to the referee but slips and crashes into the referee injuring the referee?s knee. Although #7 yellow tries to say he is sorry for the action the bellowing referee is upset and says that he wants #7 to be sent off as the senior trail AR takes over! The other AR is shaking his head and makes a disgusted phhfft sound as the senior AR and him watch as the referee is lifted onto a stretcher. The AR whispers to the senior AR that the referee was mistaken #14 yellow was not the offender it was in fact the opposition #2 blue who did the deed, reaching in and under the #14 yellow arm raising it up into the ball and while #7 yellow should not have charged over so recklessly it was clearly an accidental slip that created the collision! As the senior AR takes over the refereeing duties what should or can he do!""
Your Match! Your Decision! Your Reputation!

Our Hint

law 6 law 5

Our Answer...

PLEASE NOTE THE REFEREES ANSWERS MAY NOT REFLECT CHANGES IN THE LAW SINCE THE DATE THIS WAS POSTED

The referee mechanics here are obviously flawed!

If you read the question carefully, the deliberate handling actions explained within are subject to variable outcomes.
14 yellow was SEEN by the referee to deliberately handle the ball INSIDE the penalty area, and a PK would be the resulting restart, but the near side AR saw other action of which the referee needed to be advised!

A great deal depends on how much time elapses between the whistle for the deliberate handling and the rest of the actions that followed as to what could be considered correct and supportable decisions under the Law.

The caution to #14 yellow had to be for unsporting behaviour for breaking up the attack. Did the referee have a chance to look to his AR for help, or was he so convinced of his own view of the matter not to have bothered, and thus the quick call and card? Given the AR's response a bit later, we are left to wonder even if the referee had looked or did look at his AR, would he have gotten any help? How does an AR indicate here what help he can provide? How will the senior AR sort it all out as he takes over as the referee?

In the pre game two very CLEAR instructions for ARs are

(1) Offside is your baby stay with that 2nd last defender

(2) NEVER let the referee mess up!

The referee MUST make eye contact with the lead assistant referee whether or not he is certain of what he saw!

The AR MUST be concerned if the referee is independently going about this PK business and showing cards BEFORE having a look over to see the AR?s flag raised vertically in the hand appropriate for the restart direction in this case OUTBOUND and, after making eye contact with the referee, give the flag a slight wave!

If the referee does not see the signal, continue to stand at attention to hold the flag straight upward in accordance with the pregame conference. The AR must not move into a PK position until the referee has indicated he acknowledges the new information but chooses to discount the input and straight out tells the AR we go with the PK!

Now the referee could be dumbfounded to register such a divergent opinion being suggested but only a foolish referee would discount the need to talk here as a certainty! As the AR I would hope the referee would want this important observation ASAP!

As a referee I would be upset if my AR witnessed something so profound without notifying me immediately even if he screamed, ?Ref we need to talk! and was waving the referee over or entering the field because the referee was so inattentive as not to get eye contact!

Is the AR information credible?

What is certainly NOT acceptable here is the attitude displayed by the disgruntled AR! While ARs and referee can have ego clashes, divergences of opinion and experience non-compatibility while working together, for the good of the game these issues should always be pushed aside until AFTER the match! The senior AR should remind/chastise the other AR to tread carefully, or even demand he uphold the referee code of ethics! An AR who behaved as this one did would be hard to take seriously. The Senior AR (as the new referee) needs to balance the need to keep this AR on the game, versus handling the rest of the match alone.

The Senior AR assumes the mantle of authority from the injured referee!

Since play has NOT restarted the Senior AR could choose to change the original decisions only IF he accepts any new information as credible. He was there too, looking on and will hold his own opinion of facts concerning play!

What has occurred in the opinion of the other AR?

Was the blue player the actual deliberate handler of the ball?

If so, then #14 yellow?s caution is rescinded - play has not restarted, and no PK!! This act by #2 blue is a foul. DFK out instead, with possible caution for #2 blue for USB.

Did the blue player deliberately knock or grab the arm of the yellow player to force it into the ball?

If so, then #14 yellow?s caution is rescinded - play has not restarted, and no PK!! This is an act of misconduct by #2 blue, caution show a yellow card for the act of USB! There was physical contact either a push or pull or hold and it is a foul DFK out for yellow.

Did the blue player accidentally knock yellow?s arm into the ball,?

If so, then #14 yellow?s caution is rescinded - play has not restarted and no PK!! The correct restart then is a dropped ball at the place where the ball was when play was stopped.

Should the Senior AR now in charge simply discount the old referee?s version of events? It depends.

Is the injured referee still available to corroborate or impart his views? If so, the new referee should be sure to check and find out exactly what the referee saw and called before making any decisions regarding restarts and cautions.

Even if we assume the intention of #7 yellow was not to hurt the referee, his behaviour was clearly dissent! Perhaps the dissent was understandable if he saw the event the same as the AR, however, his forceful actions are clearly excessive and resulted in a needless injury to the official. To charge with such ferocity as to be out of control and right into the face of a referee is unacceptable behaviour! There is no excuse for that kind of behaviour - no slack for #7 yellow is warranted, whether the referee is right or the AR is right. While the referee could be incorrect about the initial call, behaviour which results in the referee being carried off in a stretcher is a far cry from simple venting disappointment or disagreement!

The only possible color of the card for #7 yellow is red for violent conduct - #7 yellow is sent off, reducing his side by a player. Unfortunate and perhaps harsh but correct!

While the Senior AR could consider the AR?s information, or issue a sharp but private rebuke to the AR regarding acting inappropriately in public at the injured referee?s expense, he must consider the consequences to game management if he and the AR are seen to be at odds. The players will correctly determine the officials are not in sync, likely creating further dissention. Time enough in the post game to review, dissect and go over the issues raised or missed and to file appropriate reports with the assignor and the referee governing body!

There will be confusion and recriminations and probably a lot of yelling going on from the various members of both teams, no matter which way the Senior AR decides!

The Senior AR must assume command and segregate fact from fiction, ensure the teams are calmed and decide how to proceed once after he and the AR conclude a private chat. Players that approach should be warned away. All of this decision making must be done as quickly and efficiently as possible to forestall other misbehaviour from either team.

After ANY cardable misconduct is administered and prior to the ANY restart, the Senior AR must address the lack of an AR and consider if there is an official available to take over as AR, and/or move the junior AR to the senior position and appoint a club linesman to handle the other side if permitted by the competition authorities!

This is a volatile situation and only a calm, professional, no nonsense official will be able to navigate the potential flare-ups. The actions taken must be clear, deliberate and done in such a manner as to fully explain to those looking on, including the teams.

The senior AR is in charge, the senior AR is acting in the best interest of FAIR PLAY and the game will only continue if those participating can accept the decisions, including the AR! Agree to disagree if you wish but accept his decisions you must!!

Your Match! Your Decision! Your Reputation!

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