Recent content by LothianRef

If a player tries to push an opponent out of the way how much force is necessary? I’d say none, yet nobody would be expecting a red card if it was player on player. I think the threshold for what’s “acceptable” for pushing match officials should be lower than players, but the LOTG don’t...

It’s not a challenge for the ball (obviously) so careless, reckless etc doesn’t come into it for me. Therefore you’re left to decide whether or not it’s violent conduct. VC does mention excessive force or brutality, but this doesn’t come anywhere near that in my opinion. Caution for lack of...

Where is this in the laws of the game?

If he pushed a player like that would you be sending him off?

People are very rarely shouting at you personally - it’s the shirt you’re wearing that they’re shouting at.

A couple of years ago I was refereeing a youth game on a horrible day with strong wind and rain. Player went to take a throw in and the ball slightly slipped from his hand as he threw it. It was probably a foul throw but it was borderline enough that I was happy to let it go, especially with the...

I get that they’re “managing an event” as much as officiating a football game but somebody needs to be brave and caution him for it, and if he continues then give him a second caution. It’s the most blatant example there is of “clearly/persistently not respecting the confines of their own team’s...

It’s a clear foul and yellow card for me. Take a pick of SPA or reckless. I don’t see it as endangering safety, and the Rangers defender is close enough to provide cover so not DOGO. I do however think you should have had a penalty for the shirt pull on David Watson.

Poor decision for the referee to give it in the first instance but sometimes our eyes deceive us and we think we saw something that didn’t actually happen. So I do have some sympathy - we’re all human after all and mistakes happen. Not really sure what the VAR is thinking though. I can’t see...

I think this thread has been skewed by the predominantly English membership of this forum, and the reluctance to allow comms in England. Up here in Scotland their use is much more widespread and it's a common site even for grassroots finals now to see the three officials micd up. Many of the...

Thanks everyone for the responses. Not a simple decision obviously, so always happy to back the onfield officials in their call.

I'll post the highlights clip when they're uploaded to Youtube later on, but hopefully I can describe the incident sufficiently. The ball was rolling back towards the goalkeeper, who is deemed to have picked it up outside his area. The replays aren't 100% conclusive, so I'm happy to go with the...

This is the kind of line that Dermot Gallagher pedals that is actually complete nonsense. Handball interpretation in Scotland is far closer to England than Europe. Two or three seasons ago it was definitely a lot more strict/bonkers, but they’ve definitely toned it down and are generally a lot...

The middle one would very much depend on tone and context of the game up to that point. The other two don’t insinuate violence at all for me so I’ve no issue with them. (And well done for the handling of the initial comment in the OP)

As long as you’re clear in your communication then I think it’s a fairly easy sell. First offence is obstructing the keeper, so that’s the restart regardless of what happens after that. As @Russell Jones says, a yellow for the attacker can help sell it. From personal experience last season I...