Question Number: 16520

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/1/2007

RE: rec Under 15

jeremy of cincinnati, ohio u.s asks...

2 questions
1. in a game if 2 players jump up at the ball at the same time and collide at the same time, 1 player falls down and the other gains balance, the ref gives the player still standing a red card. my coach comes out and ask what the card was for but the ref refuses to answer, and gives my coach a red. should he have gotten the card and shouldn't he have told my coach wat the call was?
2. later in the game i jumped to get a ball in mid field and another player (opposite team) jumps forward to get the ball but at the same time elbows me in the stomach, but he only gets a yellow card is that fair

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Jeremy, it is hard to know what the referee saw in your first question. I am guessing it had to be an elbow or other close in type of violence, or perhaps the referee judged one player was jumping for the ball and the other was jumping at his opponent with excessive force - but that is just a guess based on years of observing players' behavior in the air. I do know for a fact that under the Laws of the Game, a referee is not required to explain his decisions to anyone, least of all a coach - and most especially not to a coach who has the temerity to come out onto the field uninvited. The coach deserved to be dismissed. As for your second question, without the input of the referee it is impossible to know what he saw or didn't see that made for a different decision in this challenge - perhaps the speed or strength of the challenge was judged to be reckless instead of violent, lack of angle to get a full view? We do make mistakes, in spite of all of our hard work to stay fit, learn where to be on the field for the best view of play and players, but in all fairness, we get it right far more often than we get it wrong. The hardest part is the players and coaches often don't know the Laws well enough to know when we actually did get it right!

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

Ref Maloney makes some very good points. Without having seen the event is is impossible to render an opinion. Additionally, the coach's entry into the field of play without the permission of the referee in and of itself is worthy of discipline and then when coupled with what appears to be dissent (arguing the call) merits the dismissal. Something that we as referees have been charged with is to clamp down on the use of elbows so it is possible that this is what the referee was trying to deal with in the first instance. In your second question, as Ref Maloney states - position is everything and a little bit of luck doesn't hurt. Without the correct angle it is impossible to see what has happened. Also, the angle may create the illusion of something that is NOT there (reference your first question). What would be enlightening is to see this game and these events in their entirety so that the context of the events could be more clearly understood and such things as the position of the referee considered. While these comments do not directly answer your questions perhaps they will give you some factors to consider as you evaluate the performance and/or decision-making capability of the ref. All the best,

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Jeremy having not been there to witness for myself all I can say on this one is referees are supposed to be impartial in what they decide. They are supposed to be honest in dealing with what they observe. Players do not have the same restriction on how they view things. Players will usually side with their mates on any matter.

When was the last time you told a referee he was right to send-off your best player because he was right? "Well done referee, the bugger deserved it, thanks". "Takes guts to do that on a home ground, good on you referee". I have heard these things in the last half century. They stand out!! Boy, do they stand out!

The referee judges. He takes a decision. It is a condition of the match. It is his match, his decision and his reputation and right or wrong the referee is right because it is a fact connected with play. In review by referees placed to evaluate the referee an error is found in application of Law or a poor choice in positioning was made precluding good view of the incident corrections may be suggested and/or required before the next match at this level.

Regards,