Question Number: 34024

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/13/2020

RE: Rec Under 16

Doug of Folsom, CA U.S. asks...

Hi folks - on this clip of an international women's game, a player pulls the hair of her opponent, perhaps in retaliation for a hip bump, or perhaps she is upset at being beaten for ball possession, but it sure looks like a deliberate violent offense to me.
https://youtu.be/mzKCnEajGy8?t=23
Some would say it deserves a yellow but looks like red to me.
It looks like the ref just gave a verbal warning, altho maybe the ref issued a card after the clip ended. Maybe that is what the ref felt the game temperature required at that time.
Your thoughts?
Thanks as always /Doug

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Doug
not a great different than a shirt grab. thus a caution for USB certainly plausible, also this was a friendly, so the expectations are different, I doubt any card was shown . Looks like a apology was given and accepted as well as the referee giving the palm down lets calm things ladies but look at this clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJiRQsyrBoI
most definitely red for THIS hair pull!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Doug
Thanks for the video clip and your question.
Violent conduct is a judgement call for a referee based on what she sees and whether it meets the definition as outlined in the law.
Violent conduct is when a player uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball, or against a team-mate, team official, match official, spectator or any other person, regardless of whether contact is made.
Serious Foul Play is a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality and must be sanctioned with a red card.
In your clip the incident involves a challenge and therefore the question is whether it meets the SFP definition.
From my perspective I do not see it as endangering the safety of an opponent or is it excessive force or brutality in a challenge. The clip shown by Referee Dawson certainly is violent conduct and it merited a red card.
In your clip it was in my opinion a yellow card offence for unsporting behaviour. The game was between USA and England in the 2020 SheBelieves Cup. No cards were issued in the game. The incident happened in the 51st minute with the score at 0-0. USA went on to win 2-0.
Now the offending player immediately apologies which is accepted and the referee can be seen speaking to the offending player with a calming gesture.
One of the difficulties in viewing single events on video is that it fails to meet the totality of the game. This same incident in a feisty, unruly game would certainly require sanction whereas a game played in a good spirit the referee may decide to do the least required which could be a having a word which was done here.
My advice to referees is to do tbe least required to manage a game and that context, circumstances etc are important factors in sanctions.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Doug,
I agree with my colleagues that there is certainly not enough here for a red card. A yellow possibly and had this been further up the field with a much clearer promising attack scenario, a caution would have been much more likely.