A&H

Swearing at another player

TheLC

Member
Hello,

6 games in and enjoying it, learning new stuff every week! Game yesterday one of the players (U14s) said to me that one of the other players swore at him. I didn’t think there was much I could do even if I did hear it, what does everyone else do in this situation? Have a word with the player, speak to his manager?
 
The Referee Store
Hello,

6 games in and enjoying it, learning new stuff every week! Game yesterday one of the players (U14s) said to me that one of the other players swore at him. I didn’t think there was much I could do even if I did hear it, what does everyone else do in this situation? Have a word with the player, speak to his manager?

If it's just "swearing" and you didn't see or hear it then do nothing.
 
Yup, you can only give what you see / hear so can't take any significant action on the word of someone else (except another appointed official). At your discretion, given that this might be a red card offense if you did hear it, you could have a quiet or a public word with the 'accused' player, basically saying that you don't know if it's true but that they should be careful with their language for the rest of the game
 
I thought as much, and if I did hear what is the punishment? As an ex Sunday league player I’ve been called many things and the referee has never got involved!
 
I thought as much, and if I did hear what is the punishment? As an ex Sunday league player I’ve been called many things and the referee has never got involved!
Context is everything.

Consider:

Player A tackles player B and wins the ball, player B says "you fouled me" to which player A replies "**** off, that was a clean tackle"

Versus:

Same scenario but instead, player A replies "if you weren't such a f***ing p***y, you wouldn't have gone down looking for a freekick"

Would you treat both scenarios equally in terms of the sanction you give, had you heard them both?
 
I thought as much, and if I did hear what is the punishment? As an ex Sunday league player I’ve been called many things and the referee has never got involved!

If you consider the language used as Offensive, Insulting or Abusive, then it's red obviously. Just "swearing" at another player is very rarely that though. ;)
 
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Hello,

6 games in and enjoying it, learning new stuff every week! Game yesterday one of the players (U14s) said to me that one of the other players swore at him. I didn’t think there was much I could do even if I did hear it, what does everyone else do in this situation? Have a word with the player, speak to his manager?
As a learning point, if there is an allegation that racist/sexist/homophobic, etc comments are made - even though you haven't heard it, you are still required to make that report to the CFA. Just say a player has mentioned this to you - the CFA will do the investigation
 
As a learning point, if there is an allegation that racist/sexist/homophobic, etc comments are made - even though you haven't heard it, you are still required to make that report to the CFA. Just say a player has mentioned this to you - the CFA will do the investigation
Is this still the case if it is mentioned after the game? E.g the day after the club secretary emails saying one of their players has said they had racist comments aimed at them, but this was not mentioned throughout the game to me, or is this a case of letting the club make this report?
 
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That
Is this still the case if it is mentioned after the game? E.g the day after the club secretary emails saying one of their players has said they had racist comments aimed at them, but this was not mentioned throughout the game to me, or is this a case of letting the club make this report?
That would be for the club(s) to sort out normally. The only way you'd be involved at all is if it took place within the vicinity of the pitch as you were walking off or perhaps outside the changing rooms (if you were still about). In any event, if you yourself don't see or hear anything pertaining to the "allegation" then your sole involvement would only ever be to confirm that fact if asked.
 
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