Upcoming potential bad tempered game.

[Redref34]

I think this topic has been raised before and I know some of the answers to this but:

I have been placed on a fixture that I have since found out, last year had 5 red cards and was a very ill tempered match.

Apart from the obvious advice about not to expect too much and it might not be like that etc - would anyone do anything especially different to prepare for this game at all than usual.

I sort of wish I hadn’t found out because I would have planned to just ref it like any other game.

 

[RustyRef]

Just treat it like any other game anyway, more often than not when teams next play each other there aren't any issues and everyone is on their best behaviour. Keep it tight in the first 10 minutes to see how things play out, but most referees would do that in every game.

 

[Gabriel]

Clearly you are trusted if you have been put on that game! Just go out there as you normally would, keep things under control for the first 10/15 and see how it goes and smash it.

 

[socal lurker]

I pretty much agree with the above. I’d also say keep focussed on reading the match so that you can clamp down early if needed. And don’t use the game to experiment with being more lax!

 

[lincs22]

In the olden days, the advice would have been to "hammer" the first 10/15 mins. If the players wanted to play football, them let them but if they wanted to be silly c*nts, then the yellows and reds follow. A bit old fashioned way if thinking.

My advice would be very careful on apply advantage, as some players illegally challenged my not appreciate it and extract revenge at the next opportunity. If you do apply advantage in the first few minutes, be seen to speak with the offender very obviously.

 

[Redref34]

In the olden days, the advice would have been to "hammer" the first 10/15 mins. If the players wanted to play football, them let them but if they wanted to be silly c*nts, then the yellows and reds follow. A bit old fashioned way if thinking.

My advice would be very careful on apply advantage, as some players illegally challenged my not appreciate it and extract revenge at the next opportunity. If you do apply advantage in the first few minutes, be seen to speak with the offender very obviously.

Much like you might do in any game that is at risk of escalating?

 

[one]

Pretty much everything above. I'll just state the obvious. Extra bit of awareness and focus. Especially around what could happen away from play (while not losing focus of play).

And something else @lincs22 touched on, if players start being silly ***** to quote his words, slow the game right down, call as many fouls as you can, especially in the middle of the field. The message to captains would be, I'll let you play a flowing game once you decide to play a flowing game. But the way it is being played now, my priority is controlling the undue aggression.

 

[lincs22]

Pretty much everything above. I'll just state the obvious. Extra bit of awareness and focus. Especially around what could happen away from play (while not losing focus of play).

And something else @lincs22 touched on, if players start being silly ***** to quote his words, slow the game right down, call as many fouls as you can, especially in the middle of the field. The message to captains would be, I'll let you play a flowing game once you decide to play a flowing game. But the way it is being played now, my priority is controlling the undue aggression.

I used to call this approach "strangling the game", where every free-kick was given - no advantage. Free-kicks and throw-ins were blade of grass accurate.
Once the players complained, it was if you want have a football match, play properly and I will allow.