Question Number: 16595

Law 5 - The Referee 9/8/2007

RE: Rep Under 15

Krystina of Toronto, Canada Ontario asks...

I was recently watching my little sister's soccer game for the play offs and one of out parents were yelling "off sides" cause the ref wasnt calling ANYTHING . So the ref got mad and kicked ALL of the parents out so no one could watch the game, and he also said "if you dont leave then i'm going to call the game"
is he allowed to do that and kick EVERYONE out?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

No, asking the spectators to leave is not one of the referee's prerogatives. Ending the match for spectator interference is one of those prerogatives. The referee on the day was just tired of listening to parents and spectators demonstrating their ignorance by yelling "off sides". Most knowledgeable pundits are aware the offence is "offside" and anyone yelling "off sides" usually has no clue what they're on about. They just need to yell.

So the referee gave the parents a choice, shut up and leave or collect your kids and leave because the match is over. This is not an idle threat! When the referee says this he is at the end of his patience and had better be listened to. In the match report the referee should [had better] report he finished the match with Mr. and Mrs. Bubba sitting their cars because he grew tired of their interference so the league may levy penalties and/or disciplinary measures so it doesn't happen in future matches.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Some really wise pundit once said something like: "Those who know the least know it loudest." It describes many sports fans, but especially describes new soccer fans (usually parents of kids taking up the game). They remain blissfully unaware of the power of the referee to end a game because of their interference, of how ignorant they can sound yelling out about balls spinning, or handballs (there aren't any of those in the game) or offside (because they associate it with American football) or how awful their screaming and yelling can make children feel who are playing or refereeing a GAME. Ignorance can be cured by education, fortunately, so I'm glad you wrote so you can be part of the solution and not the problem. Best wishes, sweetheart.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Some league or tournament rules would allow the referee to "clear the sidelines". Absent that, the ref may suspend the game and tell the coaches that it will not resume until certain persons are gone from sight and sound. Law 5 gives the ref that power, to make sure any outside interference is eliminated. Before resorting to such drastic measures, the ref would have to decide that the parents' yelling was having a negative effect on the game. Not just on his feelings or ego, but on how the players were reacting. That's not much of a stretch in most games. When the parents start yelling, the kids soon follow up with complaints of their own. The parents led their offspring towards dissent - that was interference.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Krystina,
a referee has the power to abandon or terminate a a match due to outside interference of a nature, in his opinion, that is detrimental to the game and endangers the safety of the participants himself and his officiating staff included! While we encourage active support and realize the excitement and passion by those fans and parents can be a bit loud and overbearing at times. We have no direct authority unless a league or association bylaw was created to do so to send off unruly spectators.
I once stopped a match at some point, as a mom was screaming just horrible mind numbing distractional instructions that not only affected her daughter but irritated just about anyone in ear shot two fields away. I called the daughter over and quietly slipped a yellow card into her hand and asked her if she wished to go over to the touchline and show it to her mom suggesting that she should be less loud and less negative or to make herself less available on the touchlines! Her eyes widen and she smiled the biggest smile I had seen in the whole match. Her mom was suitably embarrassed and was less intrusive the rest of that match and perhaps less negative in later ones! One can hope!

I also work with coaches and ask they help in quieting those who are getting too vocal or angry! Although some coaches inflame things most are reasonable if approached correctly.

I have on rare occasions addressed spectators who were over the top in their support! I once stopped play and said, "Sir I admire your enthusiasm but you are running along the touchlines screaming so loud you actual frighten the kids into slowing down and frankly you are freaking me out as well. It is ok to support and cheer but running around like a crazy man screaming instructions that frankly the kids just will not be able to follow or understand is best left to the coaches. I suggest you praise and shout encouragement from a more stationary spot with less overwhelming screaming!

I know of a couple of colleagues who stopped play and tossed a whistle to a fan screaming and then sat down and said, "Go ahead, you seem to think you can do better! I will watch and scream obscenities at you for awhile!
Risky, certainly not a recommended stance but the nature and character of each referee and the level of enjoyment and the reasons why we continue to referee such things always amuse me to no end!
cheers