How would you deal with these two incidents?

Just been thinking back on my refereeing career as of late, because a lot of games are called off, so I'm a bit bored. - Hope this is allowed;

Anyway, there were two incidents I wanted to seek advice on if they happened today;

So the setup:

Presume Red player fouls Blue player via a sliding tackle. You blow the whistle and give a freekick. Red player gets up to his feet and.

Scenario 1: Puts his face in yours and screams. What he says is irrelevant, pretend you absolutely have no idea because he's so damn loud. But his face is right up against yours.

How do you deal with him?

Scenario 2: He jumps right up, walks straight at you and chest barges/bumps you with his own chest.

How do you deal with him?

The first one depends on which mood I'm in. If I'm feeling generous I'll give said player the mother of all bollockings and a caution - basically telling them that if they even look at anyone in the wrong way they're walking.

The second one they're going for S2. No doubt about it

Had a similar scenario to the first before Xmas. A player jumped to his feet and screamed at me less than an arm's length away, directly in my face, in a foreign language after I stopped play. It was not a nice experience.

I cautioned for dissent. If that happened again I would be reaching for a different colour.

Scenario 1: probably a caution as long as OFFINABUS doesnt come into it. A very strong talking to and a reminder of whos in charge to go with it.

Scenario 2: red card. Happened to Bacuna in a Championship match last season. He didn't agree with a throw in decision. Went to confront the linesman and chested him. Was sent walking by the referee shortly after.

I'd normally happily go red for the first one.. but if I can't hear what they've said I'd struggle to sell it.

1. is a caution, at the very least, for dissent and possibly OFFINABUS from the nature of his reaction.

2. is a dismissal AND an assault report to the CFA.

Scenario 2 is definitely a red.

Scenario 1 I’d most likely be looking at a red. Someone getting in my face and screaming so loud that you can’t understand them has to be offensive, insulting, or abusive.

Same here
2: Must be RC. No choice. Has to go.
1: Context is everything. But TBH because I try to be proactive and don't get much verbal abuse these days, it's likely to be a RC.

EDIT: You asked how would you deal with him... my two cents (still on holiday but my season starts tomorrow!)...

1. Couple of steps back/side, blow my whistle very, very loud until the player is quiet. I don't want to shout for a player to be quiet, that's the Valkeen's job (it really can stop a bull). And then I want the player to be calm before any warning or sanction. There is no rush. If it's a red card I might get the captain over first, or if it's a youth game, I might go closer to the bench - it's a chance to explain it's a red and have the captain/coach know and help get the player off. If it's a yellow, then a loud warning so that all players know how close it was to a red - avoid repeats.

2. Your own personal safety is your first priority. A close second is that of your colleagues. Get out of punching/fighting distance, fast if necessary. If you have NARs, one or both will be sprinting towards you at this point and you should join them. Do not get involved in a melee if it breaks out between players. If they fight, you take notes. Do everything you can to avoid escalation. Once there is calm, you have to decide if you will abandon the match. Unless you feel completely safe, and not at all intimidated, then you should abandon the match. Context is everything. If you feel completely safe, then send off the player without drama. After that it's probably a good idea to have both captains in for a reminder that it's zero tolerance. Take your time. Get back to the game. Remember, it is not your fault if the rest of the match is either abandoned or a damp squib because of the actions of a player.

I've had #1 a few times. Much easier to handle with a loud whistle IMHO.
I've been AR for incidents close to #2 a few times, and been a player in games where it has happened. One of my close friends got a head but as AR last season (that involved abandonment, police report, stitches etc.). I sincerely hope we all avoid anything like #2 or worse.

Thanks guys.

So, what actually happened with me was:

Incident 1 happened relatively early on in my career, I was young, and gobsmacked when it happened so I was 'stunned' into silence I guess. That incident went unpunished. I was assessed that day and was told to mandatory caution the player if it happened in future. A learning experience for sure.


Incident 2 was, looking back pretty interesting, the player got up, chest bumped/walked into me and as quick as a flash my hand went into the back pocket and brought out the red card so fast that I actually stunned him into disbelief. My reasoning was 'Attempting to intimidate the referee' - again, young and wet behind the ears. He went off without any problems, very surprising.

I processed the sending off, but admittedly, I didn't put it down as an assault. I did describe in detail what happened in the form, but didn't get chased up by the Association. In hindsight, I maybe should have written up an assault report.

These were both a very very long time ago, I don't know why on Earth I was recalling either incident today of all days, but it's good to hear your thoughts on the matter.

No 1 is the one with most uncertainty here. I am surprised no one has brought VC into discussion. If it is loud enough that you can't understand the words and its in your face, I'd be thinking about VC as well.

Physical contact is not a requirement for VC.

In Australia, flashing a strong light in someone's eye or a loud noise in someone's ear to cause temporary hurt is considered common assault.

I'd be giving both scenarios a red. In scenario one, if it's so loud you can't understand him it has to be deemed aggressive behavior and could probably be labelled as both INOFFABUS (abusive) or VC

lincs22 said:

1. is a caution, at the very least, for dissent and possibly OFFINABUS from the nature of his reaction.

2. is a dismissal AND an assault report to the CFA.

Click to expand...

Just for my future reference and own understanding, would this be submitted as one standard misconduct form or would you do it as the send-off form plus an extraordinary report?

1) If he's gone face to face then that's deliberate intimidation. I have no problems with a red card even if it's not OFFINABUS. In your face screaming, I'd consider that deliberate intimidation to fall under VC. But if he's sworn or said anything even mildly offensive/insulting then put it down to OFFINABUS just to minimise the chance of him appealing it. But a player who has done that to the match official has absolutely no place whatsoever on the field. If he has put his face that close and screamed then there's probably some spit flying, yes? Red card is easy there. Not to mention if there's the slightest bit of contact involved.

2) That's a clear red card for VC. I've sent off a player for the exact same thing. Though that lead to massive issues....the judiciary then questioned me on why I didn't abandon the match and said that obviously I didn't think it was too serious, and also that I couldn't prove it happened (dodgy, right?). Which lead to a directive in my local RA that anything like this that we consider an assault on the ref....ripping card out of the hand, anything like that, must be met with abandonment. As well as a blanket edict not to referee that team, given the player got off.

1 red card
2 red card

RobOda said:

Just been thinking back on my refereeing career as of late, because a lot of games are called off, so I'm a bit bored. - Hope this is allowed;

Anyway, there were two incidents I wanted to seek advice on if they happened today;

So the setup:

Presume Red player fouls Blue player via a sliding tackle. You blow the whistle and give a freekick. Red player gets up to his feet and.

Scenario 1: Puts his face in yours and screams. What he says is irrelevant, pretend you absolutely have no idea because he's so damn loud. But his face is right up against yours.

How do you deal with him?

Scenario 2: He jumps right up, walks straight at you and chest barges/bumps you with his own chest.

How do you deal with him?

Click to expand...

1: Minimum caution, perhaps a red if he is that worked up. It depends on if I feel it qualifies for dissent or strays over into abusive language territory.

2: Red card all day, and I'd seriously be considering abandoning the match if I felt my safety was compromised.

Kieran W said:

Just for my future reference and own understanding, would this be submitted as one standard misconduct form or would you do it as the send-off form plus an extraordinary report?

Click to expand...

No, it is a standard form for the Red Cars, but a separate letter to the CFA for it. They should then deal with the two incidents. Additionally, the assault report can mean an immediate suspension from all football, no 7 day waiting period.

Ah good to know for future incidents.