Question Number: 18006

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/26/2007

RE: Rec Under 19

Peter of Stockton, CA USA asks...

Hi

In my last game I was AR when there was a "disruption" on the field. A player from team A slapped a girl from team B, the girl from team B went wild, but was restrained from doing anything by her team mates and the center ref. I was assisting team A in restraining the girl from team A.

After having calmed things down, the center ref consulted with me (since I had a "great view" of the whole incident), and together we decided that the girl from team A deserved a red card, and the girl from team B a yellow. My reasoning was that the girl from team B did not actually hit or get close enough to even attempt to hit, but she was out of control and needed restraining.

What bothers me is that after the game, team B's coach met with me and said that he actually thought his player deserved a red card. What are your thoughts?

Cheers

Peter

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Not having been there, we don't know exactly what B did or didn't do. Was her mouth running, spewing filth at her opponent? When she first turned on her opponent, did she swing and miss? Or were her teammates able to restrain her immediately, so that no matter what evil intent was in her heart, she was not able to act upon it? From this brief description, I can't even be sure a caution was needed. Hopping up mad as blazes when you've just been sucker-punched is a natural reaction. If it goes beyond that, then the caution or send-off is necessary.

Sometimes a coach will say something like, "I was really afraid that my player would be sent off too." Very few will say, "You should have dismissed her." But coaches know more about their players than the ref does. He may know B as a hothead, that if possible she would have pummelled her opponent into the dirt. Referees can only act on what they see and hear, not on what they think might have happened in other circumstances.

By the way, sounds like your intervention as an AR deserves a "well done".

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

It depends on what you saw player B do. Certainly the red to A is proper, but did the player B commit an disqualification offense or not? I would say judge punishment on the actions you observed and you'll be OK.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 18021