Question Number: 15924

League Specific 7/2/2007

RE: Rep (competative) Under 14

Ian Sammy of Mississauga, Ontario Canada asks...

Recently my sons team lost a game based on rules set by the South Region Soccer Association in Ontario. The results were based on the fact that they did not have a full team prior to the 15 minutes grace allowed by SRSL and a game sheet for the referee.

The events that transpired was that there was a fatal accident getting to the ground that day and most of the team were stuck un traffic at that point in time. It was plain and obvious that there was no possible way the team would arrive on time much less have a game sheet prior to the game. SRSL would hear none of it although it was played almost an hour after the scheduled 7:00 pm start where we eventually won 5:1 which was officiated by the referees and books and games sheets were inspected and signed at the end of the game. A protest was made by Welland the team that lost and our teams victory was over turned by the SRSL.

Is there some ruling that says that if a game is delayed for unforseen events it should be replayed.

Ian Sammy

Under the SRSL I saw nothing about games being delayed or replyed based on the fact of unforseen events and in the spirit of the game it should have been replayed but the fined the team $250:00 and took away the points and also we have to pay another $500:00 to appeal the decision.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

This is a situation that falls entirely under the authority of the league to decide. It sounds as if they have made their decision. You would have to appeal this up the "chain of command". In the US the next step would be the XXX State Youth Soccer Association. Is there such an organization in Ontario?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Seems silly they would allow the game to be played and then decide you had to forfeit. That said, nothing in the Laws of The Game cover this. It's entirely an administrative problem for your local competition authority

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

This is always up to the league, but I am dissapointed with their decision. If the game was started late due to an accident, it is not really either teams fault. I as a referee have been stranded on an interstate on my way to a match and have had to call the teams to let them know that I would be late. To me this is a common sense understanding.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

You might like to appeal to the better reason of the league -- but that might be a futile gesture, it often is with leagues. I would think very carefully about whether or not I would like to risk the protest fee over this situation knowing that it may not work in the end.

That said there is nothing in the FIFA laws of the game that covers this as it is a league matter.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Ian,
If you examine most laws or rules or be they in soccer or elsewhere rules and laws do not always produce a fair result if rigid inflexible conditions apply or too broad interpretations are drawn. Either it allows the guilty to go free or punishes the innocent.

Given the prominent use of cell phones were you able to contact the league or match referee or opposing coach and let them know of your difficulty prior to game time?

I know that we also have a 15 minute grace time in place where if at least 7 team members are present we MUST start.

If the league had a no excuse policy then that should be explicitly understood in the preseason so that the officiating staff could say we can still play but it will not be a league result as it must be a forfeit. The issue then is what of misconduct, cards and such how is that dealt with?

Preseason get together explaining the league policy and structure, refereeing decisions, codes of conduct and a monitoring with resolution structure are necessary for good communication and problem resolutions to limit such protests.

In most tournaments and league play we have an auto forfeit that is set in black and white that while teams are to be at the field 1 hour before start time and failure to have at least 7 dressed players at the start of game time is an immediate forfeit as there is no time to rearrange matches schedules or fields. A coach died suddenly and one team was too upset to play yes they forfeited but there were no complaints as they regrouped for the next day and played in his honor

The SRSL likely says If we make an exception for you then what other issues will arise? Saying NO fixes the problem without really dealing with it! Governments do it all the time! That is assuming what the protest was solely about is the late arrival!

The fact is after an hour that the officials were still free to stay at the field, the pitch was still available and your opponents were still present is unusual but personally I think the fact the opposing coach used that point in their charter to protest if he knew and understood the circumstances to be an object lesson for his kids. I just wonder what message it sends. Win at any cost? Or rules are rules?

Having been both assignor and league scheduler I KNOW how difficult it is to put leagues together, find officials then have matches or venues changed. The amount of time and energy that these underpaid jobs usually free take a blanket no refunds no exchanges as a policy is understandable. That said, Self respect is a commodity that only can be given away never taken. Sounds like a bit was spent here!
Cheers