The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog
Sharpening Referee Knowledge and Judgment, One Week at a Time
Volume 5, Issue 44, November 10, 2013
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Please forward this Blog to your fellow soccer officials.
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
“It was the right thing to do.”
From a coach on a U-19 game where his team had gone up 4 to 0 in the first half, after the referee complimented him on his sportsmanship.
GOOF
Last week’s answer was incorrect. The question did not state that the ball did not enter the field of play.
For an illegal throw-in, the restart is the same for all leagues: turnover to the other team.
I apologize for the error. I’ll amend the blog for last week that is posted to WordPress so it won’t be in error. Thanks to those officials who had the sharp eye and spotted this goof.
This Week’s Question – And the Keeper Is?
In a youth USSF game…
Team A is awarded a corner kick. The Team A coach decides he wants his goal keeper to take the kick.
As the keeper is running down the field, the coach is yelling at him to take off his keeper jersey (regular team jersey is underneath) so he can take the kick.
The keeper does slip off the keeper jersey and lines up to take the kick. Now no player on the field is outfitted as the goal keeper.
You Make the Call:
What is the call?
What is the restart?
Last Week’s Question – Sucker Punched – Twice
On a recent IHSA Regional Final game…
The end of the second half is approaching, with the score tied 1 to 1. Player A3 thinks a foul should have been called, and begins yelling at the referee. The referee cautions the player, and then ejects the player.
As the player is being ejected, he throws two punches at the official, striking the official twice.
You Make the Call:
What is the call?
What is the restart?
What You Said:
Referee 1:
Game over. Whenever the referee is physically attacked, the game is over; terminated. File a report with the governing body AND the police.
Press charges!
Referee 2:
The “call” is to 911 – arrest the (expletive deleted)!
The restart is drop ball.
Referee 3:
Ahhh, the story from Chicago!
The IHSA is looking into it. The team forfeited. The only disappointing part at this time was the official did not press charges (according to the paper).
If an official is assaulted PRESS CHARGES!
Referee 4:
Easy call on this one. He goes to jail on a felony; battery to a sports official is a law in IL. If this is tolerated without punishment, it becomes acceptable. Restart wherever the ball was on the initial yellow card.
Referee 5:
It is sad, but this did happen here in Illinois last week. The game is immediately suspended. The police are called and the player arrested. There is no room in soccer for this behavior.
Referee 6:
The player has already been sent off – so no additional cards for the player. If the player continues his assault on the referee and safety is an issue, the game should be abandoned. If the player does leave, and safety is not an issue, then the game can be restarted as it would have been before the altercation (if play was stopped specifically for the misconduct, restart with IFK), with team A being short a player. In either case, the report submitted to the appropriate league must detail the verbal and physical assault details.
The Answer:
First, what to do:
NHFS and USSF: TERMINATE THE GAME.
From the NFHS Rules, 18-1, Definitions:
nn. TERMINATED – A term which indicates that a game has been ended by the referee for action of the participants or spectators such as refusal to play or disorder. The status of the game, which may include forfeiture, shall be determined by the proper authority.
From USSF’s Advice to Referees:
“5.11 TERMINATING A MATCH
The referee may terminate a match for reasons of safety (bad weather or darkness), for any serious infringement of the Laws, or because of interference by spectators. Only the competition authority, not the referee, has the authority to declare a winner, a forfeit, or a replay of the match in its entirety. The referee must report fully on the events.”
Next: Call the Police. File a Police Report. You have just been assaulted.
Nasty. This one is just plain nasty, and unfortunately, it’s torn from our own headlines.
The coaches rushed the field, as did the player’s team mates, and pulled him away from the Referee.
The Referee declined to press charges. In doing so, he did all referees a disservice. If you are assaulted in the field, you need to press charges. If you don’t, you condone the actions, and allow that person to get out there and do the same thing again.
Remember: We had an official KILLED this year by a punch to the head. The referee’s logic was the punches didn’t hit very hard. They were still thrown. Charges should have been pressed.
IHSA weighed in, and ruled the team where the player threw the punches forfeited. The game was appropriately terminated after this infraction.
If you are assaulted on the field, call the police and press charges. No free rides. Nobody gets paid enough as an official to get punched, regardless of how hard.
Here is the IHSA release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IHSA Statement on Prosser Boys Soccer Regional Final Match
Sanctions forthcoming after player struck official
Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Executive Director Marty Hickman announced today that sanctions are forthcoming against ProsserHigh School in Chicago and a student-athlete from the school following an incident during a Boys Soccer Regional Final match on Friday, October 25.
In a contest hosted by ChicagoAcademyHigh School, Prosser and Amundsen were tied (1-1) with just over two minutes remaining in regulation. At that juncture, a Prosser player objected to a foul not being called during play. The player began swearing at the official and then punched the official twice, striking the official once in the head.
This is a deplorable action that has no place in athletics at any level,” said Hickman. “Game officials deserve to be treated with the highest levels of respect by coaches, players, administrators and fans. Unfortunately, though, they are subject to far more scrutiny than is warranted. As this happens and perspective is lost, the value of the interscholastic experience is diminished and ruined.”
The match was immediately suspended as police and paramedics intervened. The official was treated and released. A police report was filed, but the official did not press charges. Upon being alerted of the incident, the IHSA ruled the match a forfeit victory for Amundsen, who advances to Sectional play.
“This could have happened at any school and in any sport,” said Hickman. “Teams and individuals who fail to treat opponents and officials with the respect they deserve will be dealt with swiftly and significantly. School administrators and coaches must understand the responsibilities associated with setting the right example of sportsmanship for their student-athletes and fans, and in most cases, they do. However, we will have no tolerance when situations like this one occur.”
The IHSA is currently investigating the incident and will announce sanctions after completing its review.
“I realize that across all IHSA sports, nearly all of our contests are played without incident,” said Hickman. “However, these types of actions are unacceptable. It is especially troubling given what occurred in Utah this summer.”
In April, a soccer referee officiating a youth league in Taylorsville, Utah died after being punched in the head by a 17-year old participant.
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