Question Number: 36022

Other 9/10/2025

RE: Rec Under 19

Allen Sher of Fairfax, Virginia USA asks...

At a U19 game (final champion game of a tournament), a player was twice shown the yellow card, and thys ejected. He left the area as instructed, but came back 5 minutes later to watch the game, not under any adult supervision. What should I do?

(In the actual game, I ended the game right then, with 15 minutes game time left. His team therefore lost the game 3-to-1. Many of his teammates yelled at me.)

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Allen
Thanks for the question.
Ejected players take no further part in the game and they are obliged to move and stay away from the field of play and its surrounds.
Now surrounds will have different meanings depending on the field set up. For instance a ground that has fencing and perhaps bleachers could easily accommodate an ejected players obligation to stay away from the sorrounds while an open field with touchlines only may make it more difficult.
One also has to take account of where an ejected player can go say if changing rooms are locked or not close by.

Was the protocol for dismissals discussed among referees as part of this specific competition such as where ejected players should go, what would happen in the event of continued misconduct by an ejected player. The ground may be an away ground for both teams with an uncertainty as to where to go as a lone ejected player.
While not particularly relevant here at Underage this is a concern under Child Protection Guidelines as to what should happen to an ejected player as there is a responsibility to be under supervision by responsible adults. Teams have to be mindful of that particularly if there are no parents present.

One of the considerations that should have a bearing is the attitude, behaviour and conduct of the ejected player. I have seen ejected players return after showering etc, stand as a spectator with zero involvement in the game. Referees did not need to get involved with the dismissed player.
On the contrary I have seen ejected players having to be removed away from the field of play and surrounds due to continued irresponsible behaviour.
In your situation you do not state what happened just the return of an ejected player. Nor do you mention what action you took to resolve the situation such as instructing the ejected player to move away.
Abandonment is a significant decision in any game and it would require justification such as belligerent conduct, failure to heed instructions such as moving away etc.before ending a game. Just being there would not be sufficient alone

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi Allen,

If this were a high school game played under NFHS rules, an ejected player or substitute is restricted to and must stay in the team area. This is indicated in NFHS Rule 12-4-3.

This is done for the safety of the player, especially for visiting teams who do not have any place safe to go to. Also, the safety of each player is the responsibility of the coach and having the player stay in the team area allows the coach to supervise the player.

In your situation, you did instruct the player to leave the area. Hopefully, you made it clear to him and the coach that if he did return, the game would be ended. Since you stopped the game, did he pose a threat to you or any of the other officials? Also, was the ejection of a player and what is expected of the ejected player discussed in the tournament or pregame conference?

If there was no threat if there was no requirement to stop the game when an ejected player returned or if the player and/or coach were not told the game would be stopped if the player returned to the area, I believe stopping the game and getting the game administrator to remove the player would have been the best course of action.

Have a great fall season of soccer officiating.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Allen,
first off was there was a problem when you showed the second yellow followed by the red card indicating the player was to be sent off, did the player remove himself amicably? Was there a place for the player to go to? I remain somewhat skeptical there was a -need- to abandon the match in the last 15 minutes unless this player was particularly troublesome? Our high school guru ref Manjone laid out the course of action if this was a high school match and my other colleague ref McHugh kind of skirted around the idea that maybe you overreacted? Ending the game right then and there it it conveys to me there must have been a major problem? You don't generally end championship gameswith 15 minutes left due to some irritate behavior? I don't know if you've verbally talked to him or to the Coach/Manager or if there was a set of bylaws there that give you more options but I think we're all mystified as to what was the necessity of it?

This is just an opinion of course but unless he was abusing or dissenting you or causing you or the opposition some issues, you could have simply asked into to remain seated in the stands and to be non confrontational. I think it's pretty understandable the team would be disappointed if it was losing when the game was called. I think we need a few more details here to give us a clear picture of what went on. You as a referee certainly don't have to accept any abuse or disrespect to your position if done but even an obtuse player can be given a little leeway if you can find an out so as to not abandon the game. You can always write up in a match report the behavior or conduct of a player especially if aggressive or unsportsmanlike as additional misconduct beyond his send off. Maybe fill in the blanks for us Cheers