Question Number: 16513

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/31/2007

RE: Adult

Oscar of Providence, RI US asks...

While the ball was in play in his/her penalty area, a player deliberately punched the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Oscar,
The perp is sent off for violent conduct, the assault is registered with the police. Likely the league or national association could enforce a ban of ever playing again and as to how much the civil suit is anyone's guess so is whether I will turn the other cheek!
The restart, if the match is allowed to continue is an indfk from where the referee was struck! As coaches we must ALWAYS discourage such action by acting in a reasonable manner around the youth while at any match thus setting an example of tolerance and fair play!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Restart: Indirect Free Kick
(Real Restart:) Probably none, the game is likely terminated.

Reason: Offender sent off for violent conduct, this is not a direct free kick foul. Instead, play was stopped to issue misonduct to a player which is an indirect free kick offense within it self.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

This is something I have tremendous fear of during a match and sometimes before a match. This day and age so many players have such little respect for an authority that lashing out in a physical attack is considered acceptable in their minds. I fear this because I don't know what I would do at that instant.

I know what the Laws of the Game ask me to do, I know the proper restart of play, what I don't know is what I will do to that player and whether or not he'll survive the encounter. That is my fear. A physical attack on me is going to be looked at as a life threatening event. When that happens training from a former life just switches on and happens and what happens does not stop until the threat to my life no longer exists. This is never a good thing for a referee to do, so I worry...

Coach, should your players ever find themselves doing this to a referee who have the same background as I do you will be horrified. If one of your players ever considers doing this it is my suggestion you terminate your association with him.

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

From my perspective the player is, of course, immediately sent off for violent conduct. I will then call the police and file charges against said player and have him/her arrested - should that player still be unwise enough to remain in the vicinity. After that I'm going to guess that nobody will still be interested in continuing the match and we're probably all going to be going home - hopefully safely. All the best,