A&H

Brentford v Fulham

As an observer, I'd be happy to hear it was an orange card. I'd be even more happy when the referee explained to me how he decided whether it was red or yellow. Firstly, because the referee would have to demonstrate their understanding of the law and how it should be applied. Secondly, because the referee would be demonstrating the courage of their convictions. Thirdly, because the referee would be recognising that the tempo of the game might influence the shade. I'm all for referees thinking while being consistent.

Agree with that Brian, I'd want to see the referee explain why he thought it was "orange" and how I reported on it would come down to the referee's explanation in the debrief.

That said, in my experience your gut feeling as a referee is usually right, and your gut feeling will be red or yellow, not orange. I've probably told this story before, but I had a contrib game with both my coach and an observer watching where a challenge went in from a home striker right in front of the away bench. My immediate reaction was red card, but there was no reaction from anyone and that led me to question myself as that kind of challenge almost always gets a big response, and had me thinking in the orange camp. I dealt with the injury, all the time trying to decide what to do, before pulling out the red card. Both coach and observer after told me if was 100% a red card and that they were both worried that I would get it wrong as I was taking so long. Your first instinct will be correct more often than not.

As an addendum, I observed on a game where the same player was playing last season and we had a chat before the game, he's a really nice guy and we always got on well before I sent him off and even after. He said that he was all for walking straight down the tunnel as he knew he was getting binned and was initially pleased that I seemed to give him a lifeline, only to then be annoyed that I took it away.
 
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Agree with that Brian, I'd want to see the referee explain why he thought it was "orange" and how I reported on it would come down to the referee's explanation in the debrief.

That said, in my experience your gut feeling as a referee is usually right, and your gut feeling will be red or yellow, not orange. I've probably told this story before, but I had a contrib game with both my coach and an observer watching where a challenge went in from a home striker right in front of the away bench. My immediate reaction was red card, but there was no reaction from anyone and that led me to question myself as that kind of challenge almost always gets a big response, and had me thinking in the orange camp. I dealt with the injury, all the time trying to decide what to do, before pulling out the red card. Both coach and observer after told me if was 100% a red card and that they were both worried that I would get it wrong as I was taking so long. Your first instinct will be correct more often than not.

As an addendum, I observed on a game where the same player was playing last season and we had a chat before the game, he's a really nice guy and we always got on well before I sent him off and even after. He said that he was all for walking straight down the tunnel as he knew he was getting binned and was initially pleased that I seemed to give him a lifeline, only to then be annoyed that I took it away.
Someone far more experienced than me once told me that if the gut feeling hits you in the solar plexus like a punch, then its a red.
 
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