Question Number: 15213

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/18/2007

RE: Competitive Under 14

Mark Waterworth of Burnley, Lancashire United Kingdom asks...

I am a coach and a referee and during a match my daughter's team was involved in one of our players shouted 'leave' to indicate to our player in front of her to leave the football so that she could receive the football. The referee blew his whistle and said it was ungentleman conduct shouting 'leave' and gave a freekick to the opposing side. Where in the 17 laws does it say this, I've never come across it in my training as a referee.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If in the referees opinion, a player is unsporting...it is misconduct and the referee can stop game, issue card, and restart with ifk to opponents at spot of misconduct. Generally, this is not considered unsporting...but perhaps the referee misinterpreted the comment "leave".

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Mark. Although this is rarely called in the States, across the Pond there is a misconception that merely saying "leave it" or "mine" or anything similar is unsporting behavior. The Law requires that an opponent be somehow put off or disadvantaged in order for this to be USB. that said, the referee is a match condition. First time he cautions a player for this should be a signal to you to tell your players to NOT yell anything that could be construed as USB by this referee. Tell them to yell their name instead

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

It is a myth that survives and in part because even referees at very high levels cling to the idea it is a form verbal impeding worthy of an iNDFK.
Except it simply does not exist in law!
Instead of considering it as USB and therefore cautionable if play is stopped to deal with it!

If a player screams Arrrrrgh or a similar sound effect in an effort to intimidate or put off an opponent it could be considered as USB and a caution show a yellow card. The terms, (leave it) or (I got it) or (Mine!) as a communication between teammates is perfectly fine. Where there could be issues is when a player challenges for the ball within a crowd of opposing players how loud that scream is and if an opponent's ear is nearby. The question a referee must answer is WAS an opponent TRULY put off or intimidated from challenging by that player's action?

As a Coach I encourage my players to put a name on it like Mark's ball or Richard's ball in that we designate to our players stay out of this so we do not bump heads. The Keeper shouts "Keeper' inside his area to warn his defenders he is going up for the ball get out of my way.

What one cannot do when calling one's own name is cup your hands like a mega phone and scream as loud as you can your name MARK's BALL!!!! into the ear of an opponent and then look surprised when I stop play and show you a bit of yellow plastic and a caution for such impudence!

Cheers