The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog – Volume 16 Issue 12 – Oh Please!

The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog

Sharpening Referee Knowledge and Judgment, One Week at a Time

Volume 16, Issue 12 – March 24, 2024

Please forward this Blog to your fellow soccer officials or tell them about it.  This is one of the tools we can use to keep sharp during the year.

The purpose of this Blog is so we can all learn from each other’s experience and by doing so, avoid mistakes, make more consistent calls, and do a better job. I don’t have to make any of this up – this is what happens on the pitch.

Quote of the Week:

“Hey Ref – I think you left your phone on my bench – it says 10 missed calls!”

From a coach who was Cautioned for being a jerk.

CANCELLED – The Trend Continues

Monday – 2 games rescheduled – Cold.

Friday, 1 game cancelled – Snow.

Saturday (after I wrote this) 2 games cancelled – threat of snow.

JV games continue to be cancelled – lack of players.

I hope the assignors get paid when this happens.  What a pain in the rear.  I’ve heard from other officials who said they are seeing more cancellations in 2024 than they have in prior years.

That’s 5 games this week alone.  Let’s hope this trend stops soon.

This Week’s Question – Oh Please!

On a Senior Night Game between two IHSA Teams

You have issued a Direct Free Kick to Team A at the east end of the Penalty Area after A4 was fouled.  You have previously warned Team B about providing 10 yards, which is pretty easy since this is a dual football/soccer pitch.

As you set the ball with Team A ready to take the kick, you see B11 run in and stand around 3 yards off the ball.  You ask him to move, and he doesn’t.

You Make the Call:

What is the call?

What is the restart?

Last Week’s Question: – Flying Tackle

On a Senior Night Game between two IHSA Teams…

The score is lop-sided at this point, with Team A having mustered a single goal, and Team B having 5 goals.

You see B22, who is both fast and skilled evade several defenders, and is headed into Team A’s Penalty Area straight towards the Goal Line and not towards the goal.

At this point, you see A1 execute a crude flying tackle into B22.  The tackle connects with B22 and misses the ball completely.

There are several Team A defenders in the area, along with the goalkeeper.

You Make the Call:

What is the Call?

What is the Restart?

What You Said:

Referee 1:

This definitely sounds like a foul and a penalty kick for Team B. (assuming the foul happen in the penalty area.)

The fact that the score is lopsided should not factor in the decision.  It sounds that at least the caution should also be administered for a reckless tackle, and possibly a sendoff, depending upon the nature of the tackle.

If the referee deemed the tackle to be endangering the safety of an opponent, then a send off would be necessary.

Referee 2:

Was A1’s action reckless or dangerous? From the description I would go straight red here. This is not a DGSO but is in the penalty area. So PK for B.

Referee 3:

If in the Penalty Area, PK for Team B. YC to A22 for the poor tackle.  Although it could be a Red Card if you feel there was no attempt to play the ball and it was excessive or an attempt to injure.  This was not a DOGSO as the Keeper and other defenders were in the area.

If not in the Penalty Area, a Red Card to A22 for the poor tackle. DFK for Team B from the spot of the foul.

Referee 4:

Well judging by the text “crude flying tackle” and “connects with B22 and misses the ball completely”, I am going to go with a red card “disqualification” for A1 for Violent Conduct and a penalty kick to team B, provided the foul was in the penalty area, which it sounds like it was. If it wasn’t, then a DFK from the spot of the foul.

You could go with Serious Foul Play as the reason for the red card. Need to use your best judgment on this. Punishment would be less severe in terms of suspension. I would say if team A are acting like jackasses, then you go with VC. If they are acting reasonably and understand the red card, then perhaps you go SFP. But you have to be there and see the situation for yourself and all.

Referee 5:

B22 sounds like one of their top players. From what I read, the flying tackle was an attempt to hurt and take B22 out of the game.

A Red Card to A1 and assuming he was in the penalty area, a penalty kick for Team B. We must watch for attempts to injure star players.

Referee 6:

I can hear someone on the touch line yelling “DOGSO” or something similar, but B22 was not headed toward the goal.

Depending on how crude and rude the flying tackle was would let you determine the color of the card.

Restart?  PK.

The Answer:

We had a good response this week, with 6 officials contributing!  Thanks!  Keep it coming!

Elements to consider:

A “crude” flying tackle that makes contact with the player, not the ball.

We definitely have a foul here, since nothing in the rules says “Unless they didn’t mean it.”  We judge results.

Tons of defenders, so we aren’t in DOGSO space.

But still, CRUDE flying tackle.  It’s at least Cautionable since it’s RECKLESS.  Not quite stopping a promising attack with the many defenders downstream.

As to a red card, it depends on what you see.  If you think it’s Excessive Force, then it goes Straight Red.  If an ankle or leg gets broke or you see blood, you should certainly say “Excessive Force” and eject A1.

And for the restart: We’re heading into Team A’s Penalty Area, so if this happens outside the area (and remember, the LINE is part of the area), it’s a Direct Free Kick.

If A1 does this after B22 crosses into the Team A Penalty Area, it’s a PK.

If you decide no card, you’d better have a good talking to with A1, or this WILL be likely to happen again.

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Tags: AR, assistant referee, caution, dissent, Ejection, FIFA, foul, NCAA, NFHS, NISOA, red card, referee, soccer, soccer ref, Soccer Referee, sports, USSF, Yellow Card