Question Number: 19557

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 7/2/2008

Joseph of Ottawa, ON Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19275

I actually had this situation last year. I was the match referee assigned by the league and in this league the host club always assigns ARs. As I was doing the game, I often had disagreed with a few of my ARs calls but decided to stick with, I wasn't ready to destroy their credibility for a direction on a throw. Anyways, as the game drew near to the end, I stepped in a sprinkler hole and badly twisted my ankle, I tried to carry on but I could barely walk, much to the applause to the home team, I had to ask the ARs to finish the game for me. A few not so strong calls later, the home team comes from behind and wins it. I find out after the game the 2 ARs were the brother and father of the home team's goalie.

I have had players/coaches and spectators do and say all kinds of stuff to me and I was able to let it pass, but I'm telling you guys, nothing feels worse than being let down like that by my own ARs. Thankfully I was evaluated it was very positive and of course this club in question... very bad stuff happened to them.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Sometimes the chips fall where they may. And sometimes they fall where they should as they did in this case.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the league can't afford an assignor who will cover all positions, then you are left with whatever the local club wants to do. As we know, you shouldn't ref a game in which a family member is playing, or even in the same league division for which a family member plays, due to the potential for bias. Even if there is no bias, it looks like bias. Only in an emergency - such as your twisted ankle - should someone associated with the team step in to work a game. It's good to see the league looks unfavorably on this club's practice.