Question Number: 17554

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/28/2007

RE: Silver Under 17

Thomas of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

I was the AR for a U-17 Silver Cup game the last weekend, and the CR was a Nationally certified referee. In the second half, with the score tied 2-2, with about 20 minutes to go, a free kick was awarded to blue about five yards off the sideline, and about 10 down from the half. At this point, when Blue was preparing to take the kick, one of the Green SUBS attempted to kick the Blue player taking the kick (both were standing almost right on the sideline). This was seen by both the CR, and the AR on that side (I was on the far side...I saw some altercation, but I wasn't sure what), and the CR quickly pulled out his red card, and called the Green player over to dismiss him. As the player walked over, he made a threatening gesture (not sure what, I didn't see it) towards the CR. The CR dismissed the Green player, but he wouldn't leave the field for about a minute, and the Blue team my side were yelling to get him off the field, for they didn't want to wast time.

My questions now:

1. Since the Green player sent off was a sub, should the Green team have played a man down? I didn't think so, but I never actually counted the Green players after that, and the Blue coach (who seemed to know the rules very well), was saying that it should be 11 on 10
2. Should the coach(s) have been cautioned for either USB or time wasting for not taking their player off of the field?
3. Should I have quietened the Blue coach down when he was yelling to get the player off of the field?
4. Hypothetically, if the Green player had connected with the kick, should the Blue player been cautioned if he then shoves the green player away?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

1) No playing short - that happens only if a player is sent off.

2) Would a caution to the coach have helped get the player off any sooner? Better to tell the coach that unless the player leaves toute suite, the game will be terminated.

3) You have to use your own discretion here. You could remind the coach that the ref is handling it, and that no doubt time will be added.

4) Retaliation is never appropriate, no matter how much we desire it. Hotheads get caught. Blue should try to remember that, and refrain from doing anything that might earn himself a caution or send-off.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Thomas,
if the person dismissed was a green substitute in the touch portion of the field he is not yet a green player. He is disciplined according to the nature of the offence and he is under the authority of the referee so he is sent off but his green team is NOT required to play a man down.

It is crucial for the referee to get in the thick of this quick to avoid retaliation. I also wonder about the technical area and if one was actually designated? This is in answer to your 4th question as well, if the blue player responds in an aggressive fashion then as unfair as it might be if a referee considered the response to also be VC he could be sent off and his blue team would in fact be down a man. It is a vile, sneaky tactic to gain an unfair advantage by the green team if it was their intent. To exchange a sub for a player would be an edge in playing conditions on the rest of the match being up a man after they initiated the cheating circumstances. If it was a minor push or a defending motion one would hope th referee was aware enough not to go overboard and see it as in the same light as the green's vicious attack. Then no sanction needed or at worst a caution.
That is why a referee must be situationally aware and quick to respond if he did not anticipate the events.

The fact this was an attempt has me wondering if it was not more in distracting then truly an attempt to injure? Did the blue player have to avoid the impact or was it a leg stuck out in the way. Were words exchanged prior to this attempt? I am not seconding guessing the referee his match, he decides just curious if the game held this act as inevitable or a bad fluke?

Once the card was shown and the referee has issued the instructions to leave the field area. The green substitute must comply. Failure to or further misconduct is all recorded in the match report and will play a large part in determining disciplinary measures. The coach and the rest of the green team must encourage their fallen team mate to vacate or the referee will not proceed with the game. As a disciplinary committee member if having to review the antics of a team that failed to abide by a referee decision as the reason play was terminated I am not likely to find a replay in their favor and fines and further sanctions are likely.

The referee should of course adjust for the time wasted as per law 7 and his duty in law 5.

The green coach and the blue coach have a RESPONSIBILITY to act in a reasonable manner; it is in fact the only instructions on their behavior other than giving tactical instructions from within the technical area they must comply with. As an opinion of the referee if their actions are unreasonable the referee should address this in a friendly but stern no nonsense fashion please desist and if the action persists or turns abusive the referee could then expel their sorry butts as well. I am not aware coaches could be cautioned or shown cards in BC. Warning (s) to stop, then expulsions, told to leave are all that I am aware of.

As AR I would likely have a quiet word with the coach. Tell him to to relax as the referee appears to be handling it do not further complicate things keep the anxiety low and tempers from escalating looking for further trouble.

Out of curiosity how did the rest of the match go??
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1. They do NOT play short as it was a sub not a player that was sent foo. 2. If I understand you correctly, a substitute ran on the field, committed violent conduct against an opponent and then threatened the referee and then refused to leave the field of play? My is this referee going to have a field day with his report and you'll likely see multiple game if not season banishment. I don't see from your description of what occurred that the coach did anything wrong but the referee would add any time lost. 3. No, the center referee should have, 4. usually anyone retaliating gets caught so a caution or send off could have happened