Question Number: 12196

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/13/2006

RE: junior league Under 13

I. Whitehead of oldham, greater manchester England asks...

At a recent game the opposing manager was the official ref for the game. One boy was physically much more mature than the others and in 50/50 tackles the other players came off much worse. The boy in question was given a yellow card for one such tackle and then given an immediate red card for allegedly swearing following another decision [this was given despite no previous warnings and denial by the player and those in close proximity] He warned his own player for swearing [that many witnessed] but sent off the opposing player.Is it fair play to send off a 12year old which would obviously enhance his own teams chance of winning?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The question you ask , you know the answer same as we all do!

If the referee cheated of course it is pathetic but if you feel he cheated and he DID NOT then who is truly pathetic?
Integrity is a character trait one posesses or does not. The referee in that match has a precieved biais and even if he conducted the match in an exemplementry neutral fashion that perception will ALWAYS be there in the minds of those who disagree with the calls made.

I have coached and refereed my own youth teams in certain circumstances . Not that happy about it as I feel it is my own team that is actually disadvantaged.

While physics is not a foul a larger player must still be aware of the safey of his opponents.

Swearing is an issue at the youth level that ranges from zero tolerence to publc, persistant and personal. MY personal opinion what is said is not as crucial as why and to whom? If that WORD was a simple outburst of frustration or a specific remark designed to dissent abuse or show the referee up as an opinion by the referee it is what it is and is dealt with as needed.

You see referee is a MATCH condition just like the weather or pitch surface. If the larger player was shown a yellow card and cautioned for a tackle the referee was telling him that his view his physicality was in fact a match condition. It really is not a matter of right or wrong, fair or unfair. Simply that in soccer we either agree to disagree for the good of the game or lets go home and not play?

In matches where referees are not present we have a youth policy the coaches can each referee one half to split the duties. Sometimes we choose to see things and sometimes what we see is what we see!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the player in question swore and the referee heard it and thought it directed at someone especially himself, then he should show the red card and send him off. If his own player likewise swore and the referee heard it, then that player should be sent off also. Of course, one player may have been swearing under his breath at himself and the other at the referee. Larger players should not be penalized for their size but they MUST NOT play carelessly or dagerously. You answer your own question. Of course ALL players should be treated the same by ANY referee. Allowing coaches to referee a game they are playing is a bad idea. I've had to do this in the past and found myself calling more on MY team to make certain I wasn't biased against the opponent. This was unfair to my own team. If forced into this situation, one coach should referee the first half and the other coach the second half. even this won't help if either coach has no integrity.

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

See Question: 12321