As a favour to my local club, i do a lot of their youth games on a Sunday, normally u14,15 and 16, but on occasions i take charge of the younger age groups. I have had to show a yellow card twice in all the years of doing u12 football, but this sunday, i had my very first red.
Blue 8 and White 6 tussled for the ball in the centre circle (both fairly) and fell in heap on the ground. The ball was hit forward but kept my eye on the 2 players as they had tangled with each other on the floor. Ble player got up and started to run toward the ball when the white player swung his leg really quite visciously, kicking the blue player in the side of the knee. Unfortunately no one else has seen this due to the ball being at the far end of the pitch (for a split second, i debated leaving it as no one else had noticed, and am disgusted with myself for that) blow the whistle, pull the play back and issue the red to the astonishment of everyone there. The manager of the white player, came onto the pitch saying he had never seen that before at this level and demanded to know why his player had been sent off. I explained whaqt had happened and backed down saying he didnt see it but if it happened then fair enough. Managed the game comfotably after that with white team winning 2-1.
As i was leaving i was approached by white team manager and assistant coach (i began grabbing my stuff and looking to make a swift exit. The manager said he had spoken to his player who had confirmed what i had seen. The manager then said that he was delighted i had acted the way i did and hoped id send the red card through as he never wants to see his players behave in that manner. As a side note 2 parents also spojke to me in the car park saying that although by law i was right, surely at 11/12 years old i couldve shown him a yellow instead.
Blue 8 and White 6 tussled for the ball in the centre circle (both fairly) and fell in heap on the ground. The ball was hit forward but kept my eye on the 2 players as they had tangled with each other on the floor. Ble player got up and started to run toward the ball when the white player swung his leg really quite visciously, kicking the blue player in the side of the knee. Unfortunately no one else has seen this due to the ball being at the far end of the pitch (for a split second, i debated leaving it as no one else had noticed, and am disgusted with myself for that) blow the whistle, pull the play back and issue the red to the astonishment of everyone there. The manager of the white player, came onto the pitch saying he had never seen that before at this level and demanded to know why his player had been sent off. I explained whaqt had happened and backed down saying he didnt see it but if it happened then fair enough. Managed the game comfotably after that with white team winning 2-1.
As i was leaving i was approached by white team manager and assistant coach (i began grabbing my stuff and looking to make a swift exit. The manager said he had spoken to his player who had confirmed what i had seen. The manager then said that he was delighted i had acted the way i did and hoped id send the red card through as he never wants to see his players behave in that manner. As a side note 2 parents also spojke to me in the car park saying that although by law i was right, surely at 11/12 years old i couldve shown him a yellow instead.
seriously though, i think that was perfectly well handled and lovely to see the response from the manager.
