Question Number: 16016

Law 5 - The Referee 7/13/2007

RE: FIFA U20 Professional

Al of Sarnia, ON CANADA asks...

Greatly enjoying, as always, best referees plying trade at U20 FIFA World Cup. With Holland not in and Canada out, I tend to cheer on officials. Obviously also enjoying incredible invdividual and team skills.

Deliberate Handling: Hope FIFA, CSA, OSA and all other referee associations show goal allowed by Swedish referee and crew in Spain/Brazil match where ball last deflected off Pique's arm as he tried to get it out of way. Too many "senior" referees in my area (although it's slowly changing) continue to stop play for every "handball".

Card Mechanics: Only saw a quick replay of card being taken out of referee's hand from behind by Portuguese player, but just wanted to ask about card showing mechanics. "Assessor" in me has seen quite a bit of inconsistency (middle of crowd, player walking away, three blue players and one red facing referee all at similar distance and card put up) and perhaps something will come out of this one. Unless critically urgent, I been taught (by my assessors and this site [thanks]) to draw player out of crowd closer toward touchline and have him face me when showing card. If retaliation or arguments may occur, I will pull card out of pocket early to show opponents my intent (keeping arm down at my side until player is ready to separate from crowd). I realize this could still invite a pick pocket, but probably not as quickly.

Is language barrier and/or crowd noise issue here or ...?

What is your opinion: Does pickpocket get sent off for VC (Referee Assault) or Insulting Gesture?

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

My experience has been a couple of things:
1) Player obstinence. Sometimes getting them to come with you becomes a battle in and of itself. Then you have to decide whether this particular fish is big enough to fry. Will digging your heels in and elevating the confrontation to get the player to come with you bring what you need back to the game, or will it cause others to perceive you as being difficult. 2) the intensity and emotion of the moment, the referee, wanting to deal with things immediately, gets a little too focused on the event, rather than dealing more "big picture." I have been guilty of that myself.

However, these two things can both be "cured" if you chat with and put the player's information into your book first, then show the card. The LOTG are pretty specific with each mention of cards: "caution and show the yellow card.... send them off and show the red card."

Granted, there are times when "fires" need to be put out and a immediate showing of the card is neccesary to establish peace and order. These are times though, when whichever card is shown, is pretty obvious to the world.... no surprises.

As to you "pick pocket" question. I'm not familiar with the context in which you are using this term and cannot address it adequately.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If you need to put out a fire, then show the card right away. If you can wait and diffuse the situation, then show the card after the information is written down. We need to beckon player to approach, isolate the offendor, write info down, and then show card. Too many referees are too quick to show the card and do not do it by the letter of the law. This is a problem!