jacathcart
18 May 2005, 08:30 PM
Question sent to me by close personal relative in reference to a women's rec (premiere division) game:
"Can you give a player/coach a card without them being present? We are having a huge issue w/ the referee we had this weekend. He didn't call a slide tackle in the box for us near the end of the game, and [Coach]along with some other players, went kinda berserk (don't think I would've called it myself). Anyway, after the game he called over [Coach] to tell him he needs to keep our team calm. BTW, this is a ref who will yell at you if you cry out 'Ref!' as you get battered to the ground. I told everyone to keep their mouths shut, no one ever listens to me. Anyway, [Coach] and our keeper were having a heated discussion w/ him at the end of the game on the other side of the field where I couldn't hear. Our keeper came back over after a couple minutes and didn't mention anything. Then [Coach] spent another 10 minutes bitching at the guy. To which I said, wow, he's going to get himself a red card after the game is over.
After the game, we get an email from the league about needing a write up b/c of our card activity in the game. The ref reported 3 yellow cards and a "send off" (I guess that means red card?). Two of the yellows were in the game, one warranted, the other pretty lame. But the ref never showed a card to our goalie and [Coach] claims he didn't show a card to him either. Now, I believe that our goalie never got carded, because she would have come back to our sideline complaining about it. She didn't say a word, and now says she never got a card. I think she's right. With [Coach], who knows. [Coach] says the ref claims he showed them the cards (though I always take {Coach's]explanations with a grain of salt). So my question is, can you report carding someone if they were never notified of the card when it occured? I can understand if someone stormed off the field before the ref could pull out the card, but he would still have to pull it, correct? Then at least the team would see the infraction. What's your take, oh referee guru?"
My response was that (1) Under FIFA no card is shown to coach altho he is verbally notified that he is dismissed; (2) IMHO a player or coach who is present to be notified must be carded or notified verbally in the case of a coach in order for there to be a caution or sendoff - otherwise the referee's course of action is a written report to the league; (3) Ref's authority continues after the whistle while folks are at or ont he pitch; (4) No stealth cards permitted; and (5) real problem here - and her teams's best defense at the disciplinary committee meeting - is that the ref was a doofus for not just picking up his gear and clearing the field. If he believes the coach needs a zinger he can write to the league or the ref assignor to communicate his message. Once the ref starts the conversation when he has the option to leave (unlike when the game is underway) he is in a very poor position to complain that the conversation crosses the line to dissent - especially when he allows the conveersation to go on for another 10 minutes. He basically has invited what he got unless the coach called him a freaking dipwad or something worse.
Some of the best advice I ever got was no matter how much you would like to express your expertise and superior understanding of the laws by going over and conducting an al fresco recert clinic on the coach or player after the game DON'T DO IT! Pack your bag and leave!
Jim
"Can you give a player/coach a card without them being present? We are having a huge issue w/ the referee we had this weekend. He didn't call a slide tackle in the box for us near the end of the game, and [Coach]along with some other players, went kinda berserk (don't think I would've called it myself). Anyway, after the game he called over [Coach] to tell him he needs to keep our team calm. BTW, this is a ref who will yell at you if you cry out 'Ref!' as you get battered to the ground. I told everyone to keep their mouths shut, no one ever listens to me. Anyway, [Coach] and our keeper were having a heated discussion w/ him at the end of the game on the other side of the field where I couldn't hear. Our keeper came back over after a couple minutes and didn't mention anything. Then [Coach] spent another 10 minutes bitching at the guy. To which I said, wow, he's going to get himself a red card after the game is over.
After the game, we get an email from the league about needing a write up b/c of our card activity in the game. The ref reported 3 yellow cards and a "send off" (I guess that means red card?). Two of the yellows were in the game, one warranted, the other pretty lame. But the ref never showed a card to our goalie and [Coach] claims he didn't show a card to him either. Now, I believe that our goalie never got carded, because she would have come back to our sideline complaining about it. She didn't say a word, and now says she never got a card. I think she's right. With [Coach], who knows. [Coach] says the ref claims he showed them the cards (though I always take {Coach's]explanations with a grain of salt). So my question is, can you report carding someone if they were never notified of the card when it occured? I can understand if someone stormed off the field before the ref could pull out the card, but he would still have to pull it, correct? Then at least the team would see the infraction. What's your take, oh referee guru?"
My response was that (1) Under FIFA no card is shown to coach altho he is verbally notified that he is dismissed; (2) IMHO a player or coach who is present to be notified must be carded or notified verbally in the case of a coach in order for there to be a caution or sendoff - otherwise the referee's course of action is a written report to the league; (3) Ref's authority continues after the whistle while folks are at or ont he pitch; (4) No stealth cards permitted; and (5) real problem here - and her teams's best defense at the disciplinary committee meeting - is that the ref was a doofus for not just picking up his gear and clearing the field. If he believes the coach needs a zinger he can write to the league or the ref assignor to communicate his message. Once the ref starts the conversation when he has the option to leave (unlike when the game is underway) he is in a very poor position to complain that the conversation crosses the line to dissent - especially when he allows the conveersation to go on for another 10 minutes. He basically has invited what he got unless the coach called him a freaking dipwad or something worse.
Some of the best advice I ever got was no matter how much you would like to express your expertise and superior understanding of the laws by going over and conducting an al fresco recert clinic on the coach or player after the game DON'T DO IT! Pack your bag and leave!
Jim