Question Number: 14579

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/12/2006

Donn Milton of Vienna, VA USA asks...

This occurred in a Division 1 U-16 boys game. There is a crowd of players in the goal area. A shot from around the 18 made its way untouched through the crowd, but was stopped at the goal line by deliberate handling by a defender (not the goalkeeper). The problem was: I, the center referee, was screened and did not see the handling. My AR did, waved his flag, and I immediately whistled to stop play. I conferred with him, and although he was absolutely convinced of the foul, he could not identify the player who committed it. I awarded a PK (there was not a hint of dissent from the defending team), which was successful. But, because I could not identify the offender, I felt that I could not send someone off for what was otherwise a clear DOGSO/H. Was that correct? Or should I have employed the procedure analogous to what has been recommended when there is an extra (but unidentifiable) player on the field: i.e., ask the captain who the extra player is, and if the captain can't or won't identify the extra player, then caution the captain. One additional point: several minutes later, after substitutions following the PK goal and after the ensuing kick-off, my AR did learn who the offender was, because he overheard the offender confessing to his coach. Should that have been noted in the game report?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee crew is absolutely sure an unknown defender denied a goal by deliberately handling the ball. The sending-off offense demands that side play with a reduced number of players. The Law requires a penalty kick be awarded. In Law 5 the referee's first duty is to enforce the Laws of the Game. You did your job half way.

If you found out who the culprit was and did not mention his name in your match report your job performance is less satisfactory.

It is my contention that we signal the penalty. Find out who is going to be sent off, the captain will volunteer one, he will go or you pick their BEST defender. Tell him that and let him have 5 seconds to choose. Send off the "guilty" player. Take the penalty kick. Write your report and state exactly what you did. If the guilty player was chosen then he suffers his fate. If an innocent was chosen there exists the possibility the guilty player will step froward, admit to his foul play and let his team mate off; if the disciplinary committee is worth their salt.

You must enforce the Law, your crew saw a sending-off offense and did nothing about it.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The PK is the correct call. Mr. Fleischer is correct that a player needs to be sent off for this. Mr. Fleischer offers a great strategy to use in doing this. Have the captain name the player or you choose.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You have a clear case of DOGSO but the offending team has not been punished. SOMEONE has to be sent off. I would tell the captain to choose one or I will. Restart with PK. WHen you find out later whether you got the right or wrong culprit, you include that in your report.

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

Don't ya just love these kinds of situations? "Losing" the offending player in a crowd is a real bummer - especially when you KNOW you should administer "justice." There are many techniques one can use and you've been given a good one by Ref Fleischer. Another approach you might consider? Call the PK - of course. Pull out your book but be standing next to one of the strikers from the other team. QUIETLY, with your head down, ask him who it was who stopped the ball with their hand. Odds are they know and will tell you - and if you're talking quietly they will probably talk quietly too. Move away from the striker never making eye contact with the person you were just talking too AND if the player they identified makes sense (i.e. a fullback or such) then go with it - call them over and show them the red. the appearance that this gives is that you were the one who booked the player and no one else was involved. If anyone contests and you are proven to be wrong then, what the heck, you simply made a mistake in identifying the offending player. You need to be real careful with this as with the one above. When you end up "bluffing" your way through the call it can also bite you in the backside - big time. All the best,

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

I wonder....if the defender put his goal keeper in a situation where now he has to defend the goal against a penalty kick, if that goal keeper might not be pissed at his teammate??? Of course, this all depends too. Some teams stick by each other like hair spray on a cat and will defend each other even when they know they are wrong. Other teams, the players are smart and love the Game. When one of their teammates does something stupid, such as this, it irritates them enough to give them up to referee as a way of "getting even" for having to defend their goal against a penalty kick. Just another thought.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 14929