Question Number: 14895

Character, Attitude and Control 2/24/2007

RE: Competitive Under 15

Bob Munroe of Oakville, ON Canada asks...

I just heard of a situation where two opposing players got into a fight while walking toward the pitch before the start of a game. The referee witnessed the event and told both coaches that, as a result of the fight, he would not allow either player to play in the game until the second half.

Can a referee actually tell a coach who can or can not start the game?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Bob,
if two players were fighting on the field at warm up while I was there to referee their upcoming match both players would be sent off and shown the red card for VC. The two players would not participate but the two teams would play 11 aside.

The referee cannot tell a coach anything of a tactical decision he can only send off the players making them ineligble to play thus there is no decision for the coach to make about when they play as they cannot!

The players are subject to the control of a referee at the begining, during the warm up when they are on the field and for the brief period as they are leaving the field after the match not just the 90 minutes of play time or the 15 minutes of interval time.

If the fight was not at the field say in the parking lot while I could record the incident it is not within a referee's authority to sanction the misconduct away from the field. Certainly we could document the incident for match authoritities as well as have a word to the coach and or captain and the two youths that the ugliness best not reappear on the pitch.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Well Bob, that's just nuts and this referee needs to be sat down and read the Laws of the Game. 2 players get into a fight before the game they are both sent off shown the red card and they not only do not play in this game but at least in the next and probably next 2 or 3. This referee was making stuff up as he went along which is ridiculous. In answer to your question, if he doesn't send the players off than he absolutely cannot tell the coaches to sit the players out for the first half. I would love to see his match report and read how he justified doing something absolutely NOT allowed in Law. Referees like this are a disgrace and should be drummed out asap. Of course, we only have what you say to go on.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Hmm, another referee who seems to want to play "Deal or No Deal". One who would make up rules to seem to give the team a better deal than doing his duty and sending off players for violent conduct. And the ref comes out ahead too, because he doesn't need to file all that messy paperwork! My colleagues have already noted what the correct actions should be.

OK, use this next suggestion advisedly. Only at the very youngest ages of play should refs try to "fix things" to avoid formal misconduct procedures and reporting. For example, is there any reason you MUST show a red card to that U9 player who was keeper in the first half, and now in the second half is playing defense and caught the ball preventing a goal? But if that same U9 player hauls off and slugs a teammate or opponent, he should be dealt with properly.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Once there are fists showing there needs to be something done. The Law affords the referee the option of discipline administered, either unsporting behaviour or violent conduct. A severe tongue lashing is sometimes effective too. U-15 boys seldom understand anything but a sending-off and significant bans for this kind of stuff. The referee reaching into his liberal pocket and finding something that makes him feel good isn't something the Law affords him, shame on him.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

They should have both been issued red cards and told not to play the rest of game. Also proper report should have been filed and the league decides the ultimate penalty.