Question Number: 24976

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/18/2011

RE: Referee instructor KNVB Professional

Fred Gerritsen of Bilthoven, Utrecht Holland asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24809

? plager uses bad words against à spectator. For example shut your old idiot.
Ball is in play plager is on the field. THE referee dicide to stop play.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Fred
The referee takes the appropriate disciplnary action against the player such as a caution for unsporting behaviour or a dismissal for using offensive, insulting and abusive language/gestures.
The restart is a dropped ball from where the ball was when play was stopped.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Players should refrain from having dialogue with spectators. What happens next is up to the referee. He basically has 5 choices:

1. Ignore and say nothing
2. Note what was said and have a quick word with the player like 'that's enough'
3. Decide this warrants a caution. If ball in play, stop play restart with a dropped ball where ball was when play was stopped.
4. Decides to stop play and have a discussion but no caution. Dropped ball restart.
5. Decides to send off the player. Red card. Dropped ball restart.

Which of the 5 he chooses depends on how his choice will affect management of the game. We try to avoid stopping the game unless warranted especially giving that the dropped ball restart will be in the goal area

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

My colleagues as usual have stated the requirements of the Law, along with some common sense. I would only add the referee doesn't need to react to everything that happens or is said. If nobody notices or reacts to what the player did, the referee probably shouldn't either (assuming it wasn't the referee or assistant referee being addressed).

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Fred, you are talking about man management. There are a million ways to manage a tricky situation and as an instructor I am sure you tell your pupils many ways of handling tough situations. The Laws allow us to to handle your example from doing nothing to sending off the player but there is always the most appropriate option. the referee must distinguish between 'factory' language and insulting language. In Canada we are advised to consider the three Ps; Public, Personal and Provocative.
If the referee decides to stop the game to do something about it, the restart is a drop ball. And just for the record he should try hard NOT to stop play for this reason when the ball is in the goal area!

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

See Question: 24990