Question Number: 13249

Character, Attitude and Control 7/1/2006

RE: Adult

Ken Mathieu of Wayne, PA USA asks...

In their coverage of the World Cup, more than one commentator has complained that the refs need to "talk more to the players" rather than hand out yellow cards. What happens when the ref does not speak one or more of the languages of the players, eg., when you have a ref from the Ukraine with players from Ghana and Brazil?
Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yeah those dumb commentors. They do not understand that a yellow card is a caution. If players got talked to everytime, then the consequence would be weak and players would not have to worry. Referees talk to the players with a lot of body language and gustures and they learn some of the key words in each language prior to the match.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ken,
most if not all announcers are so full of inuendo, mistruth, myths and outright crap that they do the game more harm than good in promotoing it. If their desire is to irritate and raise controversy to sell news or add ad space then they do remarkably well in that!

Soccer is a universal game where the laws are always the SAME and apply EQUALLY to all no matter where a match takes place. The game is played FAIRLY or it is not! If you take a literal view of law 12 and this PENAL FOUL where if in the opinion of the referee it occurs is a DFK or Pk if inside the PA!
"tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball"

The degree of bendability by a referee within the application of law to ignore doubtful or trival infractions and reach an understanding of acceptable tolerance of physical play is the aim of every referee in every match we do!

A referee must DECIDE the guidance level for setting a FAIRPLAY standared where in fact foul play is occuring but both teams accept a certain discomfort.

The difficulty is what one player thinks fair another thinks foul and HOW does a referee reconcile them? He applys the law in a FAIR and impartial manner and renders a decision based on what he sees.

These are world class players who are striving to be something that will only occur for a select few in the whole world. The PRESSURE weighs VERY, VERY, VERY, heavy on the shoulders of not only the participants but also the officials and make no mistake, this is anyalised and gone over in minute detail as to the expectations and proceedures for arriving at courses of action.

Communication in a rapid moving match with the world title up for grabs has tension in the players stretched very tight. Officials must distance themselves from the overwhelming passion and emotion because they are NEUTRAL and not concerned with outcome of score only the game can continue if the laws are followed.

The attitude and composure of players in dealing with an official must understand that he is a match condition just like the weather or the pitch surface where they adapt to it . A referee is like the brakes of a car owned by the players. Good players will check their brakes regularily to avoide collisions but failure to heed the warning lights, fluid levels or mechanical condition of the brakes and the car will crash on occassion. It is NOT the fault of the brakes if the driver pays no heed to the warning signals.

Communication has been relayed POST match as to expectations. Communication be it a smile and a thumbs up or a furrowed brow with a definate NO and arms crossed or hand help palm up. A finger point to the ball and whistle to set the position or state wait for the whistle these body mechanics and the TONE of the voice set the communication lights flashing in NO uncertain terms. There is no time for a debate on the pitch and listening to the abuse or dissent again since it is not readily understood is likely in the player's favour anyway!

The stakes are high and the hand motion to settle down, stop the nonsense, wave up a downed player or ask if they can continue are easily translated with out the over use of words.

Anything said is short and sweet!
The " no more of that!" crossed hands I see in EVERY GAME. The finger/hand wave to tell players to back up and keep their bad breath off is seen EVERY GAME! I have seen smiles in EVERY GAME as well as thumbs up. I referee many non English players and while I can not always understand everything. I get the meaning of just about anything that matters Cheers!

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Commentators by and large are not knowledgable as to what referees actually do in a game. Sure, talking is ok but when a yellow comes out, that's loud and clear, "DON'T DO THAT AGAIN". These referees have been amazing. Have they missed some calls? Sure, but overall they've been terrific. As you point out, if not speaking the language, how are they to speak to the players? These are the best players in the world. They know the rules. They break them, they get punished as they should. As Ref Dawson points out, referees "talk" to the players throughout the game with hand and body signals. The World Cup players know the rules and they know by a referees actions what the referee is thinking. Many choose not to listen. Would be nice if Mr Blatter would take up for the referes but, as usual, he's more interested in trying to increase television ratings.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The commentators you are listening to are former US players and during their careers referees [at least in America] were instructed to "manage" players rather than discipline them. This is what they're used to and have come to expect. In this tournament referees were instructed to deal with stuff and prohibit it, not to "talk". Ref Contarino says, a caution tells all to "Knock it OFF". Not everyone listens to a broadcast to all, hence another broadcast "To All".

My colleague Ref Dawson goes into great detail on how to "talk" without knowing a player's language. He has learned this, as have I, over a lifetime of refereeing. It's NOT something taught by the US National Referee Program though it is expected!

Regards,