In Ohio High School soccer if a player gets two red cards in one season, he is suspended for the remainder of the season. This "foul" occurred with 15 minutes to go in a 4-1 game. Is it a straight red card, which is what the referee gave to the defender (in red)? Is it a yellow or is it even a foul? You be the judge..
It's a bit difficult to tell as the AR screens the play at a pivotal moment. But there's a few things to consider. First is that the AR had a pretty good view (perhaps too close, but still a good view). Second, you have to think that the "fouler" knows that the A) the ball is going out of play and B) he's in a very dangerous position on the field, being right next to the track and running full speed. I think anywhere else on the field that that appears to me to be just a foul. And if there was no track there, probably a foul and a yellow card, as the ball was going out of bounds anyway. The fact that the track is there, however, along with the concrete barrier surrounding it, could be enough justification to upgrade to a red card, I think. It's an interesting thing to think about: should we factor in where a foul is committed in determining whether a move endangers the safety of an opponent? Or simply how the action was committed.
There's no foul because it looks like it happened off the field of play, but it certainly can be misconduct. I do not have any other context, but I can think of scenarios where that would be worthy of a red.
Well it happened right in front of the AR and he had no hesitation in flagging it. It appears that the red player drops his shoulder and deliberately knocks the opponent into the track. I am OK with VC.
Is that two red cards of any type and you are out for the season, or two of a SFP/VC nature? Any appeal process? Not that I expect the referee to take this into account for the call.
Whether it was a push or an elbow it is hard to determine. Whatever it was, it was directly in front of the AR and he got a great view even if we did not. It occurred off the field of play after the ball was OB. I have absolutely no problem with a red at the high school level. If that's the rule, it should not change an official's determination of a call. He's responsible to call what he sees as he sees it. The result of his call outside of the game before him should have no bearing.
I'd like to add that it saddens me that this video was posted on youtube by what appears to be the kid's Dad.
The interesting thing about that, is that the dad can't see the misconduct. As referees, we should not be saddened by that, we should be educated by it. ...another indication of how people see what they want to see...
Jay, my point was not as a referee, but as a parent. I can't believe, as a parent, someone would take an incident like this to a public forum like youtube. What is that teaching your kid and what is he hoping to prove? Is he going to go to the appeal board with comments from youtube? Jay, I apologize, I should have been clearer. I do agree that the father is in denial.
Unless there is an elbow sticking out that I can't see from this angle, to me this is a fair shoulder charge. Defender is in possession of the ball and is legally shielding it within playing distance.
Two points. 1. Something forces the boy in blue's body to spin counterclockwise and whatever it was occured after the ball was out of play. 2. The AR reacts swiftly and deliberately. None of us are in a position to doubt he saw something.
Thanks all for your comments. I am not in denial. I took down the video and I appreciate all your input. I wanted to get some non biased feedback. I am upset that my son put himself in a situation where the AR or Referee could think about red carding him. It was an unnecessary foul even if he was "shielding" off the charging attacking player. The AR said the track being in such close proximity did play a role in his recommendation for a red card and admitted if the game had been on grass he probably wouldn't have. I have no problem with the call or the subsequent two game suspension. I do have an issue with the state rule that says if a player receives two reds in one season then you are suspended for the season. I think that should weigh on a referees mind before he pulls out the card especially when there isn't any appeal process to the state but I am a coach not a ref.
100% disagree with you that this should or can weigh on the referee. Referees are officiating the game in front of them according to the rules that they are provided. They cannot twist their judgment of that game because of a rule outside the pitch. (That said, I completely agree with you that the 2 reds is an auto end of season is an incredibly stupid rule -- I suspect that it is an across-all-sports rule, and ignores the fact that soccer reds are completely different from other sports. Two careless fouls that end up as DOGSO and the kid's season is over?!? Ludicrous!!) As a coach I would encourage you not to spend your time wanting referees not to give red cards that are earned, but in getting the state to change the stupid punishment outside of the game.
So in a future game this season suppose a hothead opponent is out of control but is kept in the game by a referee that is worried about sending him off because he is thinking about the season suspension. That player stays in the game, players take justice into their own hands and the game gets violent, and your son is injured and HE misses the rest of the season. Still think refs should not send off players that should be sent off?
I find myself agreeing with Jcrocker, sport billy, SoCal AND threeputzzz. Somewhere Gabriel's horn is blowing.
I could see two VC or SFP reds ending your season. While in my 4 years of high school I never received a single red, it was a different time. For one, we had no DOGSO. You are correct, DOGSO changes things. Great point.
Yea, I think a black and white "2 reds and you're done for the season" rule is a bit harsh. Do "double yellow" reds count? A guy on my high school team got a yellow early in the game for a tactical foul, and then a second late in the game because he stepped off the field during the stoppage to grab a drink of water (something that the referee should have, IMO, ignored). Should that red card count the same as punching someone? What if that was a second red of the season? Also, the video is gone now so I can't check, but do you all really think the ball was out of play and they were off the field when the foul occurred? Looked to me like they were still on the line.
Double yellows do not count towards the suspension or even a 2 game suspension. It is straight red cards only.
Unless there was something there that wasn't seen - such as the defender striking the player, this is not SFP. And as the OP states that the AR indicated he recommended a red card due to the track, then we can safely assume that there was no violent The defender fairly shields the ball out of play and in the process the attacker ends up on the track. If the defender did dip his shoulder in such a way that the charge was unfair, then at worse one could call it reckless due to the proximity to the track. Remember the criteria for a reckless tackle is that it is done without regard to the safety or consequences to the opponent. Serious foul play would require that the defender charged the opponent with excessive force. The defender beat the attacker to the ball and was shielding the ball out and had position on the attacker requiring the attacker to come in from behind and around There is little to point to with the SIAPOA guidelines that would lead one to consider SFP. The speed was equivalent. The intent appears to be to shield the ball out and not to take the opponent out. The aggression scale is minimal and the position actually favors the defender. Opportunity to play the ball argues against the attacker here as he is coming in on the defenders back and forced to swing wide to try and win the ball. That leaves us with atmosphere that none of us can address. At a minimum, good presence and player management could have kept this as a minor and inconsequential play and at most the referee could have booked for a reckless tackle. Finally, the AR needs to be further off the line. He is too close to the the line and the merging of the players. In a way, his positioning keeps the attacker in a collision path with the defender. Drop off the line or drop behind and give the players space.