Question Number: 15702

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/4/2007

RE: Rec U19G Competitive

Keith of Point Pleasant, WV USA asks...

My team experienced a bad incident at our state Spring Open Cup competition this past weekend. My U19 girls rec team was playing against a U17 travel team in the final game for the championship. We had been placed in a U19 girls all-star division because there are not enough teams competing to have 3 levels at every age group. The travel team was much more skilled than my rec team and won the match 5-0.

During the game, on a breakaway, my forward sprints down the middle of the field toward the goal with the ball close in front of her and in complete control. The keeper hesitated, then at full sprint ran straight toward my player. Just outside the 18, the larger keeper kicks the ball and my player and completely flattens her. My player goes down with a serious thigh injury and can't be moved off for EMT treatment for about 5 minutes. If the keeper fell down she got right back up. A few minutes later while my player is lying on the field I hear one of our opponents on the field say "get her off the field... we want to play". The ref ignored the talk, did not speak one word of warning to the keeper and called only a simple foul against the keeper and allowed a DFK about 1 yard out of the 18. After the defense set their wall up about 5 yards away from the ball, the ref moved them back about 7-8 yards away instead of 10 and allowed the play to start.

I'm still angry and as a result I'm probably biased. I think this keeper was guilty of 3 send-off offenses:
1. Serious Foul Play
2. Violent Conduct
3. Denial of goal scoring opportunity by an offense punishable by a free kick.

In addition, I think the comment about getting the player off the field falls under offensive and insulting language and that player should have been sent off. I discussed a possible protest with a Cup official but he talked me out of it. For my own peace of mind, please tell me how this incident should have been handled.

Thanks in advance.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

First, none of us were there and you admit you probably are biased. We're not going to second-guess the referee as to why there was no misconduct given, nor his estimation of 10 yards. Nor if he heard the "get her off" comment or how he should have responded to it - although the comment clearly is inappropriate. I will note that sometimes horrendous collisions and injuries occur without any foul whatsoever, or with a foul but with no misconduct.

The keeper could not be guilty of both Serious Foul Play (SFP) and Violent Conduct (VC) at the same time. It has to be one or the other. SFP is for a foul with excessive force, on the field, against an opponent, while the ball is in play, and while attempting to play the ball. VC can be committed against any person (opponent, teammate, coach, referee, spectator), whether the ball is in play or not, on or off the field. If it is against an opponent, the action does not involve playing for the ball.

Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) could apply under a set of conditions known as the 4 D's.
* Distance to goal
* Distance to the ball
* Direction of play
* Defenders between the foul and the goal
You haven't given us enough information to determine if these were met or not, particularly whether or not there were other defenders nearby. If DOGSO and SFP/VC applied, the ref would choose one as the reason for the send-off. Generally SFP or VC would be the reason given, as these offenses are seen as more severe and also often have stricter penalties associated with them (fines and/or suspensions).

The cup official was probably wise to advise you not to protest the game. You would have to pay your protest fee, and even if they decided that your team might have scored had the keeper not fouled your attacker, the score would still only be 1-5.

If after a few days of reflection you still feel the referee was incorrect, especially if you feel he did not have the safety of the players in mind, you should report the incident to the referee assignor or the State Referee Administrator. They would not be able to do anything about this particular game. But if they get several complaints about referee performance or behavior, they will take action to assess or retrain the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I will agree with Mr. Voshol here. Just because two players fall down and it makes you cringe does not mean a foul needs to be called or that misconduct should be dealt with. Without being there, I cannot evaluate the play. My guess is that the referee felt the collision to be careless and not reckless or with excessive force. The referees handling of the 10 yds and verbal comments is really his discretion as well and cannot really be debated.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hey Keith. Most tournaments don't allow protests anyway. Violent Conduct is not a possibility as they were contesting the ball. DOGSO likewise is unlikely as the action took place far away from the goal. You say the keeper kicked the ball and your forward went down. Where's the foul? Did she kick her with the ball or did she kick the ball and then your forward. Since I wasn't there I acn't realluy comment but SFP is a possibility but this referee felt otherwise. I will say this, players get hurt all the time and no foul occurs. An injury, even a serious one, does not equate with a card of any kind. I think the comment made by an opoonent about your player is deplorable and would have earned the young lady a caution from me and a yellow card. Sorry to hear your player got hurt

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