Question Number: 18034

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/30/2007

RE: Premier Under 13

Avery Haskell of overland park, Kansas USA asks...

If all of team A does a red card deserving chant (wheather in english or another language and the referee knows this language) while on the field/sideline right before the game starts does the whole team get red cards?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Avery, are you asking if all the 11 and 12 year-olds on a team use offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures before the match should they be sent-off regardless of the language they choose to use?

What does the Law say on this subject? Also one might look to Law 3 and see if the adult responsible for the behavior of the children is permitted to remain within the technical area.

Just think for a second, we listen to between 11 and 18 children chant something that we, as referee, consider worthy of a sending-off. What message do we send if we allow any of them to participate in the match?

Come now Sir, what message indeed? I might suggest the league be permitted to read a match report explaining exactly what was said and in what context it was said and see if they would return any player passes for 3 or 4 matches.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the referee knows the language is abusive, insulting, or offensive, then send the whole lot of them off!!!!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

We referee for fun, perhaps a small recompense but fair play requires a neutral party to ensure the spirit and intent of the laws are followed. When those who participate choose not to do so we intervene. Misconduct or abusive action by one player or the entire team is judged as to its merits and the action taken should be appropriate to the misconduct observed. I hear unpleasant things I might whistle, stop play and cite all or warn the coach that responsible behavior is HIS mandate within the laws. If the actions continued or were so utterly deplorable where no second chance could be considered then one does what one must to restore the game to its normal state. If it meant showing the card to all players, dismissing the coach that is what you write up in the match report! Cheers