Question Number: 24609

Character, Attitude and Control 2/22/2011

RE: comp Adult

richard Marnhout of pleasant hill , california usa asks...

Is it ethical for an assignor to assign himself center of a tournament final game, (or any other important match) ?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Richard
Normally assignors are not participating referees and the question does not arise. Throughout the world assignment of games by assignors is always a challenge particularly when no science/mechanism is applied to the process.
If a referee is acting as an assignor for a tournament I don't see any ethical reason why he cannot appoint himself to any game. The only question would be whether a more qualified/experienced official has been overlooked in the decision to assign himself to the latter stages of the competition including the final which can raise questions from the participating teams as to why that happened.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

An interesting question...there is a code of ethics for assignors:

1. That I shall maintain the utmost respect for referees and other officials of the game and I will conduct myself honorably at all times.
2. That I will make assignments based on what is good for the game and what is good for the referee.
3. As a member of the United States Soccer Federation, I will strive to make my actions reflect credit upon that organization and I will contribute to the continuous development of referees in the National Program for Referee Development.
4. I will conduct myself ethically and professionally in the assignment process.
5. I will respect the rights and dignity of all the referees, and I will not criticize them unless it is in private, constructive, and for their benefit.
6. I will offer equal opportunity to all qualified referees, and I will avoid discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
7. I will cooperate fully in the timely resolution of any grievance, hearing, or complaint.

It is not unethical for an assignor to assign themselves to a game - assuming the answers to the above points in the code are positive. For instance, the assignor might be a high level referee, who has done these teams before, and realizes it is a challenge for other referees available at that time. For the good of the game, the assignor may feel he is the best choice at that time. Or, perhaps the assignor needs game count, and this one fits needs and skills, and he is not taking away from other referees. There are many acceptable reasons.

However, assigning oneself to games always leaves one open to the type of criticism evident in your post, which is why most of us only assign ourselves games occasionally, and only if we can't find someone else who would a) do a good job b) needs the experience.