Not unhappy with my decisions or sanctions but probably just need to vent and share this amongst other referees.
I had a game last night on the Eastern Counties U18. Team White vs Blue - not predicted to be a particularly difficult game, it was like fine rain last night but otherwise playable conditions. All games on this league are under the floodlights, in a Team of 3. Senior assistant is a very good friend, and the Junior was unknown to me and also U18 herself.
Pre-match all fine, captains talk, play to the whistle, help me manage your players.
6 minutes in - first credible foul, opted for a quiet word with White captain as he committed the foul, few advantages to play later in the half before 2 reckless fouls by team blue. Yellow card for the coach for SOW09. No real sanctions against whites, spotted careless fouls but not by particular players and managed with words. Spoke to both captains on 37 minutes to discuss the consistent backchat (normal at this level but still annoying).
Felt positive at the end of the first half, the game was 1-0 being managed well.
Second half it all changed. On the 50th minute, I awarded Team White a penalty following a holding/dragging offence. To start with it was a bit 50/50 but as the ball changed possession, blue defender then performs something out of WWE on the white attacker. Blew for a penalty it was in my credible area without AR assistance. Keeper rushes straight out to me, so I've ordered him away and am going to caution for the surrounding. Before I can, he launches a torrent of abuse some probably far too graphic for this forum and this time in the morning, but your usual "f**king c**t, f**king useless". Told me "I had a really chinnable face, and how he'd smash my f**king head in given the chance".
My result was a straight red card for S6 - the blue defender that had conceded the penalty then reiterated the same comments as the GK, so S6 for him too. These were direct, towards me not muttered under breath and loud enough for those behind the goal to hear.
Took over 10 minutes to get the penalty taken following a conversation with the benches, as you can expect it's fairly unheard of to issue Reds at this level even a double sending off.
Started to get a bit silly after this, a 50/50 foul between white and blue, and after which blue kicks out at his man, scrapes his studs up whites leg. Following a chat with AR1 just as I couldn't quite believe I'd seen what I thought I'd seen, a third red card for S2 Violent Conduct.
75 minutes - white captain who I had elected to speak to for the first foul then commits DOGSO, clear trip on the attacker, just outside the area no mitigation for anything.
At this point I use a cooling off period probably the first in my county. Incident break on the watch, both coaches on talk to remaining players that i wont allow anymore. Didn't work at all - final challenge was a 2YC for AA. 50/50 between both, as he gets up they're shoving and pushing. Blue player 2YC, then threatening opponent "wait for me after the game, I'll smash you in, see you at college tomorrow etc etc".
2 minutes of normal time remaining + over 10 of additional, for me I elected to abandon at that point. Blue team are down to 7, Whites are down to 10.
Not sure why I wrote this out, I know what I've given in law is 100% correct. Not bothered about the abuse, I've heard worse and it doesn't really affect me the way it has in the past it's more how it's unacceptable on a football pitch. It's more nothing I did or said made any difference, nothing helped the game, used all the tools at our disposal maybe it's just accepting some players do not want to play football and just want to have a fight? To give 4 cautions and 5 dismissals at any level and then to abandon is unheard of. I'd been swapped onto this game as I presume I'm considered a strong match official but I can't lie it bothers me. I had my first 6-5 MDC that was all positive all ticked expected standard or performed well whereas this feels like a reality check.
If you read all this, thanks.. be interested to hear any thoughts. TLDR - games gone ref
I had a game last night on the Eastern Counties U18. Team White vs Blue - not predicted to be a particularly difficult game, it was like fine rain last night but otherwise playable conditions. All games on this league are under the floodlights, in a Team of 3. Senior assistant is a very good friend, and the Junior was unknown to me and also U18 herself.
Pre-match all fine, captains talk, play to the whistle, help me manage your players.
6 minutes in - first credible foul, opted for a quiet word with White captain as he committed the foul, few advantages to play later in the half before 2 reckless fouls by team blue. Yellow card for the coach for SOW09. No real sanctions against whites, spotted careless fouls but not by particular players and managed with words. Spoke to both captains on 37 minutes to discuss the consistent backchat (normal at this level but still annoying).
Felt positive at the end of the first half, the game was 1-0 being managed well.
Second half it all changed. On the 50th minute, I awarded Team White a penalty following a holding/dragging offence. To start with it was a bit 50/50 but as the ball changed possession, blue defender then performs something out of WWE on the white attacker. Blew for a penalty it was in my credible area without AR assistance. Keeper rushes straight out to me, so I've ordered him away and am going to caution for the surrounding. Before I can, he launches a torrent of abuse some probably far too graphic for this forum and this time in the morning, but your usual "f**king c**t, f**king useless". Told me "I had a really chinnable face, and how he'd smash my f**king head in given the chance".
My result was a straight red card for S6 - the blue defender that had conceded the penalty then reiterated the same comments as the GK, so S6 for him too. These were direct, towards me not muttered under breath and loud enough for those behind the goal to hear.
Took over 10 minutes to get the penalty taken following a conversation with the benches, as you can expect it's fairly unheard of to issue Reds at this level even a double sending off.
Started to get a bit silly after this, a 50/50 foul between white and blue, and after which blue kicks out at his man, scrapes his studs up whites leg. Following a chat with AR1 just as I couldn't quite believe I'd seen what I thought I'd seen, a third red card for S2 Violent Conduct.
75 minutes - white captain who I had elected to speak to for the first foul then commits DOGSO, clear trip on the attacker, just outside the area no mitigation for anything.
At this point I use a cooling off period probably the first in my county. Incident break on the watch, both coaches on talk to remaining players that i wont allow anymore. Didn't work at all - final challenge was a 2YC for AA. 50/50 between both, as he gets up they're shoving and pushing. Blue player 2YC, then threatening opponent "wait for me after the game, I'll smash you in, see you at college tomorrow etc etc".
2 minutes of normal time remaining + over 10 of additional, for me I elected to abandon at that point. Blue team are down to 7, Whites are down to 10.
Not sure why I wrote this out, I know what I've given in law is 100% correct. Not bothered about the abuse, I've heard worse and it doesn't really affect me the way it has in the past it's more how it's unacceptable on a football pitch. It's more nothing I did or said made any difference, nothing helped the game, used all the tools at our disposal maybe it's just accepting some players do not want to play football and just want to have a fight? To give 4 cautions and 5 dismissals at any level and then to abandon is unheard of. I'd been swapped onto this game as I presume I'm considered a strong match official but I can't lie it bothers me. I had my first 6-5 MDC that was all positive all ticked expected standard or performed well whereas this feels like a reality check.
If you read all this, thanks.. be interested to hear any thoughts. TLDR - games gone ref
" I didn't feel too threatened to be honest. I enjoyed the game strangely I actually enjoy all the hate I'm at a point where it kinda bounces off me I just penalise it on the pitch because its not acceptable to talk to anyone that way, i just cant believe it had all happened in one game. Having abandoned a game for assault I didnt feel at any point that was going to happen again, with my own body language and being firm on my decisions for things. 