Question Number: 15605

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/25/2007

RE: cOMPETIVE Adult

Craig Randle of Delta, b.c. CANADA asks...

Hi GUYS...JUST WONDERING..WHEN DOESN A REF DECIDE WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH FROM VERBAL ABUSE FROM THE PLAYERS? MY LAST GAME HAD A PLAYER WHO CONSISTENTLY SENT HIS OPINIONS MY WAY , LONG AFTER THE PLAY. ITS EASY TO SAY TO FOLLOW THE SOCCER RULES AND SEND HIM OFF FOR UNSPORTING BEHAVIOUR BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WATCH WHAT YOU DO AND SY, ACCORDING TO THE RULES. sOMETIMES HE WILL SAY IT BEHIND YOUR BACK, OR SOMETIMES HE WILL COMPLAIN TO HIS TEAM-MATES OR WHATEVER. THERE SHOULD BE A FINAL LINE THAT NO PLAYER CAN CROSS OR SOMETHING BUT I KNOW THAT CANNOT HAPPEN. OK - EXAMPLE- THE OTHER TEAM JUST SCORED. THE DEFENDER OF THE LOSING TEAM SAYS-OPEN YOUR EYES,YOU FFING IDIOT,YOU ARE A JOKE-GET LOST ETC ETC.--I WARN HIM TO KEEP HIS OPINIONS TO HIMSELF OR LEAVE THE FIELD BUT THESE PLAYERS USUALLY SHUT UP FOR 5 MINUTES AND THEN CONTINUE ON WHEN THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY ARISES. ANY INPUT? tHANKS ALOT....cRAIG

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Craig,
Lose the caps, it is known as screaming on the internet!

Zero tolerance = no problems!

Emotion and competition can create feelings and passions that are less than desirable but understandable. One does not need to be prude or inconsiderate to a difference of opinion or oblivious to the right to free speech. As referee our job is to ensure the players are safe, the laws and the spirit which comprises those laws and the ideals of fair play are adhered too within the spirit with governs the unwritten aspects of acceptable match behavior.

Continued verbal USB as dissent or outright abuse needs a tough stance by a referee with backbone. We might first ask they stop> We might then warn them to stop >We might tell them they must stop in that order for the itty bitties.
Some reasonable dissent, some reasonable doubt can be allowed to exist as a cushion for relieving stress but there are limits of tolerance. Players or coaches who constantly push at the envelope of acceptability need to be expedited to the yellow or possibly expressed posted to the red depending upon the seriousness of the transgressions

If the act or words are personal, persistent and public the clown will be shown a yellow card at the very least! If they are graphic or fall into our opinion of abusive or foul, a red card will be shown.

Referees remain in the background as much as the players allow them to, to allow the player?s game to unfold. Referees? can make it rough for themselves if they over step with ego or under whelm with indifference. Perfection is not a reasonable goal, but players can sense weakness, see a lack of effort , hear from others as to the measure of the referee uniform and the character of the individual wearing it.

Stay with play and work with ARs to manage a match the effort to do well is easily recognized even if they disagree with a call!, Always smile for FUN, enjoy the experience, do not smirk, know the laws and get the restarts right, try to understand the passion of competition to evaluate the need to act!
Cheers