Question Number: 29018

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/30/2014

RE: Retired Other

Alan Grainger of Berea, Kentucky USA asks...

If a player is given a yellow card for simulation and it is shown to have been a foul and not simulation, can the yellow card be rescinded....and if not, why not?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Alan,
perhaps in televised matches at the top level where a disciplinary committee can review footage, red cards are on occasion rescinded. Recently a red card was rescinded in an MLS match, so it is vaguely possible a simulation foul accompanied with the yellow card that clearly was not warranted might be subject to the same review if it was a second caution thus send off not sure if it was only a first caution? That said a referee decision is supposed to be final as a fact of play so at the lower levels no chance unless the referee rescinds the card before restarting play say based on additional AR input or a realization he was incorrect.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alan
It depends on the competition rules. In the UK cautions cannot be appealed at any level with the one exception of mistaken identity.
At the lower levels of the game where there is no video evidence the rescinding of dismissals just does not happen except where the referee requests it in his report. In the sole cases of mistaken identity another player must be nominated by the club as the correct player.
The reason that appeals are not allowed is that it has to do with the referees authority in the match. He is the sole arbiter on the day. An appeal say on a dismissal does not overturn the dismissal (if the appeal is successful )as the player took no further part in the game just that there is no suspension and record of the dismissal. The formal decision usually says that the committee has upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal. That has to do with legal principle of set aside where there may be new factors not available to the referee on the day when he made his decision and it cannot undo the original decision on the day of the player taking no further part.
In the recent Premier league game between Southampton and Manchester City Aguero was cautioned for simulation. It was shown that there was a foul and most if not all believed that the caution was in error as there was no simulation whatever about exaggeration. The caution could not be appealed though and it is counted. Perhaps some leniency may be shown should the player reach 5 cautions. I'm not sure?

Answer provided by Referee James Sowa

Alan,

The simple answer is yes. The card can be rescinded by the referee prior to restarting play. If play is restarted then the card can not be rescinded unless there is a post-match review policy. If the league bylaws allow for protests on cautions, it would be possible to rescind the card. As Referee McHugh points out, this is not likely for a yellow card.

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

See Question: 29026