A&H

Spitting at an opponent

one

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An incident in a game I was AR but a generic question.

You see a motion/expression from a player to an opponent a foot away from his face in a motion you can't explain any other way but spitting. The opponent wipes his face immediately. You don't actually see the spit/saliva. What do you do?

Not sure if this should be relevant but the coach later said it was a 'pretend headbutt' but in a headbutt forehead is tilted forward. This motion had the forehead tilted back and chin forward.
 
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You didn’t see it, you don’t send him.

Worth looking at the Dzeko spitting incident at an official the other week. Turns out it wasn’t a spit at all but at the time that was the only thing it looked like
 
If you didn’t see it, you might check with NARs if you have them, as you can send off on what they saw.

Some referees have gotten away with asking the apparent miscreant “why did you spit on him?” If he denies it, you go with something a long the lines of “I’m watching you—you may have gotten away with this because I didn’t see it, but you won’t again.” And if he says “because he’s been fouling me all game!” you just got an admission tonsupport what you thought happened. (I’ve never used this, and not sure if I would—needs both great care and the right situation.)
 
If you are confident that he has spit at someone, dismiss him. If not, then call the suspected player in and state that any incidents of spitting at another person is a red card offence, and if you see it you will sanction accordingly.
 
Here is my submitted report replace #### with player name:

In the 53rd minute of the game #### was recklessly fouled by an opponent in opponent's half near centre circle. Referee stopped the game immediately. A minor scuffle broke out as a result. The referee issued a caution to the offender and was dealing with the scuffle on the spot. #### started walking towards the opponent's penalty area where a number of opponents where standing. The opponents including their No 4 where saying something to him which were not audible to me. He kept walking towards no 4 and i kept an eye on them. #### got very close to no 4 (about 30cm face to face) and I saw a spitting motion from #### towards no 4. I was about 30 meters away from this incident, in an unobstructed side on (square on) view. Although I did not see any saliva coming out of ####'s mouth, the motion can not be described any other way than spitting. No 4's immediate reaction was to wipe his face. This resulted in an even larger scuffle with more players although there was no physical altercations.

After the situation was under control the referee approached me and asked what I saw. I told him I saw an spiting motion from #### towards No 4 in close proximity of his face and although I did not see the saliva I was reasonably certain of it being spitting. The referee showed the red card to #### and he left without further incidents.
 
I total get the above. My reservations are though it reads same as that punch we never saw where we know blue 9 has been smacked by green 5 but we just never saw it..
We can write the same report, swapping gob for blood
We have all be in that position where we know who did what but other thsn do him for his next thing, we simply need to hold up the hands and say , nope, never saw it

Just throwing that in there
 
Yep, imagine it goes to a tribunal...The offender should get off simply by asking you if you saw him actually spit as you have to say no.

What can you do? Not a lot unless you lie which would never be advisable.

I would suggest your report has too much detail though, keep it as brief as possible. It's easier to write and leaves less to be challenged if appealed!
 
I don’t agree with submitting a report saying that you saw someone do something which looked like spitting, but didn’t actually see him spit. That’s just guess work
 
I don’t agree with submitting a report saying that you saw someone do something which looked like spitting, but didn’t actually see him spit. That’s just guess work

Put aside the report for a second. The ref didn't see anything. He asked me what I saw and I had to tell him what I saw.

Now there was a send off. I am required to submit a report. My report will be the primary report as the send off was based on what I told the referee. What would you put in your report?
I would suggest your report has too much detail though, keep it as brief as possible. It's easier to write and leaves less to be challenged if appealed!
My priority is paint a complete picture for the person/panel who reads it to determine sanction.
 
I don’t agree with submitting a report saying that you saw someone do something which looked like spitting, but didn’t actually see him spit. That’s just guess work
Although I haven't had to do this under the new system, presumably the ref has submitted the red card and named @one as an AR who is also reporting? He's then obliged to write something - and can either lie and say he saw him spit, or tell the truth, report what he told the ref and perhaps get the ref in trouble for showing a red without the necessary level of certainty. Not an easy situation to be put in.

EDIT: :ninja:'d!
 
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Put aside the report for a second. The ref didn't see anything. He asked me what I saw and I had to tell him what I saw.

Now there was a send off. I am required to submit a report. My report will be the primary report as the send off was based on what I told the referee. What would you put in your report?

My priority is paint a complete picture for the person/panel who reads it to determine sanction.

If the ref didn’t see it and you didn’t see it, why has he been sent off?
 
If the ref didn’t see it and you didn’t see it, why has he been sent off?
You can ask the referee that (its a different debate if it should be a send off). You criticised my report and its content in your post. I ask you again, what would you put in it?
 
Put aside the report for a second. The ref didn't see anything. He asked me what I saw and I had to tell him what I saw.

Now there was a send off. I am required to submit a report. My report will be the primary report as the send off was based on what I told the referee. What would you put in your report?

My priority is paint a complete picture for the person/panel who reads it to determine sanction.
Just tell it as you saw it. The player may or may not be charged. Move on
 
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