Question Number: 28378

Law 5 - The Referee 4/28/2014

RE: Under 12

JANE BEDDOWS of Wolverhampton, Select a State United Kingdom asks...

Can a player of a team whos father runs that team allow his own mother ref the game?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jane
Not a good idea but it does happen. Referee who have a conflict of interest should decline games as it is likely to cause problems even when there are none.
The referee can be 100% correct on every decision and perhaps she will still be considered biased by some.
Anyway I doubt though there is anything in the competition rules to prevent it but assignors try not assign in these cases if at all possible.
The other consideration is whether the game is not played because a match official is not available. At Under 12 I'm playing the game no matter whether the official has a conflict of interest or not.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Many referees have been asked to referee their children's recreational match. There are too many games and too few referees. Most referees hate it; they'd rather support their kids. They do it to avoid the forfeit that would result if there were no referees. I know of no one who 'favors' their kids team; their integrity is more important than a game for kids. Indeed, I suspect that most youth coaches would trust a good referee (even if their child plays on a team).

That said, it would be inappropriate in a competitive division to referee a match in which you have an actual or apparent conflict of interest. There should be full disclosure to both teams, and receive the consent of each club, the assignor, and the league. Many leagues allow affiliated persons to serve as assistant referees, but limit them to the role of a club lines (e.g., indicating ball in or out of play, but not offside or indicating fouls).