Question Number: 20340

Character, Attitude and Control 10/22/2008

Rudy of Vancouver, BC Canada asks...

Can and should a ref stop play if the opposing coach yells out, 'Leave it, leave it!' to a defending player, thus allowing a member of the coach's (attacking) team to get possession of the ball?

How about if a spectator does it?

What would the restart be?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The coach should be dismissed for not behaving in a responsible manner. Coaches may offer tactical advice to their teams; they may not try to deceive the opponents by giving false tactical advice.

If you felt a spectator's comments inserted him into the game as if he had run onto the field, he would be considered an outside agent. Security or a field marshall should direct him to leave. If there are no field attendants, the coach would be told to make the spectator leave and the game would not restart until he does.

If you stop play for the comment, the restart would be a dropped ball where it was at the time the game was stopped.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This is a case of a coach acting in an irresponsible manner. Stop play and deal with the coach. Personally, I'd dismiss him from the field. Restart with a dropped ball. If a spectator actually does something that influences play, you likewise stop play. Here, you would then go to the parent's coach and tell the coach to have the parent leave and you are not restarting the game until the parent is gone. I usually give them 2-3 minutes for this. In Canada you may have a different policy towards spectators. This is also true in some locations in the US that have ordinances that allow referee to directly remove spectators. Again, restart with a dropped ball where the ball was when you stopped play

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I suspect I chew the coach out and award the drop ball assured the coach will not repeat given unreasonable conduct I could dismiss him if he persists in such foolery. Hopefully the offended team is not unfairly deprived of opportunity and the team perhaps embarrassed by the coach's action will allow the ball to be sportingly returned in some manner? A spectator? We can hope a official security presence is there to do what is required. But we suspend or abandoned until the spectator is removed voluntarily or forcibly but not a factor if or when we resume play. Drop ball again from location of all when play was stopped.
Cheers