Question Number: 14712

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 1/19/2007

Jon of London, UK asks...

Situation today similar to that of the Zidane fiasco in WCF. I was AR nearest incident. Play had been stopped at other end for a DFK for handball. i was stood on my offide line and blue defender pushed orange attacked to floor and then kicked him. Ball was still not in play at other end. I buzzed my flag and said into mic, "Paul, violent conduct just occured at my end. Need attention right away." Paul looked across and said "What has happened Jon" I explained and finished with "My recommendation is dismissal for Blue number 6" 4th then comes in onto the mic as the ref is walking towards me end with "Paul, I saw incident too and also recommend a dismissal." The referee then comes over to me and has quick chat that consists of "Blue 6 recommendation of dismissal for violent conduct correct?" "Yes Paul" "Certain?" "Yes Paul" The CR then CAUTIONS blue 6 for USB completely disregarding two of his assisstants'...both of whom had seen the incident...recommendation. What is your view on this. Personally would always go with my ARs and then obviously he would also have a report to submit and i would also request one from my fourth. I didn't say anything as this is bad practice, but it did not look good as the attackers coach had too seen incident and this made me look incompitent as to what i had recommended. I still can not get my head around the complete lack of application of the rules!! Wat are your views guys?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Right Jon, it was his match, his decision and his reputation in the dust bin. You did your job, right?

You did say to your referee: I watched blue #whatever push orange #that hard enough to knock him to the floor without any provocation, then I watched the same player, whose facial expression was that of extreme anger, kick the orange player, who was on the floor, in the back using his right boot. The orange player moved significantly from the impact. I think you have no option but to send-off blue for violent conduct. 4th, is that what you saw and recommend?

You did say exactly what happened and make the strongest recommendation possible, didn't you?? If you did, then you did your job, well done Jon.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi jon,
a couple of points
when my AR is dispensing information it will be private what is said is said to me not for the benifit of others.
If my ARs are confident that the incident I did not see was looked at in the same light as if I did see it and can stand the scutiny of,
"Is this needed?" by me I will follow their recomendations as there is no reason to doubt their sincerity or integrity.

There is no doubt that the referee can make a different decision and as a fact concerning play it will stand . The referee may try to find excuses that surely this was a retailiation for something. As my good friend and colleague Ref Fleischer points out his match, his decision, his reputation.

You offered your opinion and explained what occurred as you assisted as you were instructed and indeed mandated in law to do. When acting in an AR capacity I will explain incidents exactly as if I was referee recording the match report but would refrain from telling the referee he must do anything. You lead the referee into talking himself into the need by revealing the details that can leave no other reasonable conclusion. If a referee lacks the testicular fortitude to act appropriately he, not you, bears that responsibility!

Good for you for doing your job and not creating a scene of insisting rather than assisting. Later in the post game review you can bring up this subject as to why the referee chose the action he did. I am sure the assessor would like to hear it as well.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

That depends how well I knew and also, how much confidence I had with my AR's. If my AR was an experienced and well respected referee, I would never over rule him on his decision. If both the AR and 4th official saw it and had the same opinion, I would have a difficult time not going with their decision. The AR needs to be as specific as possible when addressing the referee regarding this issue. He needs to say exactly what he saw and who was invovled. Just saying "5 should be dismissed" is not enough. The AR needs to bring to the attention exactly what was done and what deserves his send off. Hopefully then the referee will be o n the same page as his AR.

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

See Question: 14723