The Ref Stop

Card Procedure

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Referee220378

New Member
Level 7 Referee
Level 7 referee, County Cup Match, away side winning 1-0 with 6 mins left to play, away goalkeeper taking excessive time with goal kicks, already has a verbal warning, I’m up on the half way line anticipating a long kick, when the goalkeeper decides to move the ball within the 6 yard box further delaying the game.

Question is I have all the players names written down, the goalkeeper in question has the surname of Simmonds and I’m constantly hearing him being referred to as ‘Simmo’ during the game, I decide to blow my whistle, take 5 steps towards the goalkeeper and flash my Yellow card. No arguments and the game continues.

At the end of the game, the assessor suggests that I should have followed the correct procedure, made my way to the keeper and taken his details, warn him about future conduct and then issue the card accordingly.

Would appreciate some feedback on this, is there a certain level where flashing of cards is acceptable rather than following the protocol we are told during training?

My opinion was that due to my location on the pitch and the fact I would have had to run half the pitch would have simply aggravated the home side by slowing the game down more than the away goalkeeper already had.

I also have full team sheets for both sides as per competition rules.

TIA
 
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The Ref Stop
I think I would have went to the goalkeeper and communicated why they were being cautioned and to inform them that time would be added on. That would be a proactive response as well as an active one.
 
Referee220378 said:
Level 7 referee, County Cup Match, away side winning 1-0 with 6 mins left to play, away goalkeeper taking excessive time with goal kicks, already has a verbal warning, I’m up on the half way line anticipating a long kick, when the goalkeeper decides to move the ball within the 6 yard box further delaying the game.

Question is I have all the players names written down, the goalkeeper in question has the surname of Simmonds and I’m constantly hearing him being referred to as ‘Simmo’ during the game, I decide to blow my whistle, take 5 steps towards the goalkeeper and flash my Yellow card. No arguments and the game continues.

At the end of the game, the assessor suggests that I should have followed the correct procedure, made my way to the keeper and take his details, warn him about future conduct and then issue the card accordingly.

Would appreciate some feedback on this, is there a certain level where flashing of cards is acceptable rather than following the protocol we are told during training?

My opinion was that due to my location on the pitch and the fact I would have had to run half the pitch would have simply aggravated the home side by slowing the game down more than the away goalkeeper already had.

I also have full team sheets for both sides as per competition rules.

TIA
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I think in cases that for delaying restart then a quick card is permissible. Especially in the circumstances you describe.

I think as a matchday coach i'd be looking at was procedure followed for any other, and did you have sound reasoning in your rationale for the quick one, which it appears you did.
 
Referee220378 said:
Thanks for the observation 🤷🏼‍♂️

Not sure that has any relevance to the question I’m asking but let’s agree he was ‘a match day coach’ to make you feel better 👍🏼
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There is a difference albeit that Match Day Coaches are often Observers, but less formal. As an Observer there is a possibility, albeit slight, that a quick/flash card was appropriate, but as a Match Day Coach he thought the formal process would be better. However, on the face of it, from the circumstances you have detailed, a flash card was appropriate.
 
Thanks guys appreciate it.

Wasn’t sure on the terminology, I was informed I was being assessed so therefore presumed he was an ‘assessor’

Irrelevant really, but appreciate the general consensus that a ‘flash card’ was appropriate.
 
Referee220378 said:
Thanks guys appreciate it.

Wasn’t sure on the terminology, I was informed I was being assessed so therefore presumed he was an ‘assessor’

Irrelevant really, but appreciate the general consensus that a ‘flash card’ was appropriate.
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It isn't irrelevant. Match day coaches at levels 7 to 5 are supposed to develop the referees by offering advice and coaching, observers at L5 and above are there to ensure that promotion candidates are ready for the next level by marking against set criteria. There is a huge difference between the two.

For the incident in question I'd support a flashed card. The offence was delaying the restart, so it would seem counter productive for the referee to delay the restart even longer by going through the formal procedure of going to the player, asking name, warning, etc. But to do this you need to be 100% certain that the name on the team sheet is the actual player's name, and it seems like you had that confidence.
 
Referee220378 said:
Thanks.

May I ask, at what level is ‘flashed cards’ acceptable for every caution / dismissal?
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At L7 it’s all about getting the basics right, which includes card technique e.g the usual process. However, if there is justified reason to provide a flash card at any level, then there is no reason it cannot be taken. Such reasons include the one you have already mentioned, as well as those offences that a quick card could quickly diffuse potential retribution from the offended team, be it a reckless tackle, violent conduct or serious foul play etc. This is my opinion, others may have different views.
 
"Procedural cards" are outdated anyway. But even if you imagine they're necessary the majority of the time, this would be a fully justified exception - this is a poor piece of advice.
 
GraemeS said:
"Procedural cards" are outdated anyway. But even if you imagine they're necessary the majority of the time, this would be a fully justified exception - this is a poor piece of advice.
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Really, a poor piece of advice!! At least 80% of cautions I see administered from L4 to L2 are undertaken in the procedural way, so is not outdated (only it appears in your world). In any event, the process is not used for the sake of it, but as a tool to calm things/players down etc & often achieves the desired outcome. Also, the procedural process is also used to ensure Referees have identified the correct player - since not only can they quickly disappear from the scene of the offence, but they don’t turn around politely so that their shirt numbers can be clearly seen (albeit depending on the competition rules the number can also be on their shorts - though small).
 
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GraemeS said:
"Procedural cards" are outdated anyway. But even if you imagine they're necessary the majority of the time, this would be a fully justified exception - this is a poor piece of advice.
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Nope.... not on my FOP they're not
When the FA came out and encouraged a quicker process, it screwed up one of the best aspects of my game. Process
Besides, they neglected to inform observers (at least some of them anyway) so the change really hasn't done me any favours
I've reverted back to only using quick cards to prevent further misconduct, delaying the restart and failing to respect the required distance

There is a level at which the spectators pay for quick cards. Probably Step 3, perhaps Step 4 on occasion? At Steps 5 and 6 you lose more than you gain both in terms of Match Control, but also meeting observer's expectations

@Referee220378 you did the right thing. If I was your MDC, I'd have supported your approach (and I couldn't give a monkeys if you got my official title wrong 😀 It has zero bearing on your ability to referee a football match IMHO!
 
DavidObs said:
Really, a poor piece of advice!! At least 80% of cautions I see administered from L4 to L2 are undertaken in the procedural way, so is not outdated (only it appears in your world). In any event, the process is not used for the sake of it, but as a tool to calm things/players down etc & often achieves the desired outcome. Also, the procedural process is also used to ensure Referees have identified the correct player - since not only can they quickly disappear from the scene of the offence, but they don’t turn around politely so that their shirt numbers can be clearly seen (albeit depending on the competition rules the number can also be on their shorts - though small).
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They're administered that way because outdated observers still insist on giving outdated feedback.

If I want to slow things down, I can still talk to the player/their captain and can take as long as I want to write notes in my book, set up the resulting FK etc. If the player is angry, I don't need to treat them like a child and drag them over into arguing range. And most of the time, players don't need to be told why they're being booked, or "warned as to their future conduct" any more than seeing the yellow card warns them. And really, when was the last time a player didn't at some point turn their back to you either during the foul, trying to avoid the caution or after the card is shown?

Moving away from "Procedural cards as the default" has so many benefits, offers so much flexibility and almost no down sides. So yes, they're usually outdated and it's absolutely terrible advice in this specific case.
 
Big Cat said:
Nope.... not on my FOP they're not
When the FA came out and encouraged a quicker process, it screwed up one of the best aspects of my game. Process
Besides, they neglected to inform observers (at least some of them anyway) so the change really hasn't done me any favours
I've reverted back to only using quick cards to prevent further misconduct, delaying the restart and failing to respect the required distance

There is a level at which the spectators pay for quick cards. Probably Step 3, perhaps Step 4 on occasion? At Steps 5 and 6 you lose more than you gain both in terms of Match Control, but also meeting observer's expectations

@Referee220378 you did the right thing. If I was your MDC, I'd have supported your approach (and I couldn't give a monkeys if you got my official title wrong 😀 It has zero bearing on your ability to referee a football match IMHO!
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Jesus, you'd think I killed someone based on the angry response this post has generated!

You can do what you're comfortable with on your pitch. Forcing referees who are more comfortable with quicker cautions and a lower profile to make a big show of obvious cautions is dumb when no one needs the slow process any more.
 
GraemeS said:
They're administered that way because outdated observers still insist on giving outdated feedback.

If I want to slow things down, I can still talk to the player/their captain and can take as long as I want to write notes in my book, set up the resulting FK etc. If the player is angry, I don't need to treat them like a child and drag them over into arguing range. And most of the time, players don't need to be told why they're being booked, or "warned as to their future conduct" any more than seeing the yellow card warns them. And really, when was the last time a player didn't at some point turn their back to you either during the foul, trying to avoid the caution or after the card is shown?

Moving away from "Procedural cards as the default" has so many benefits, offers so much flexibility and almost no down sides. So yes, they're usually outdated and it's absolutely terrible advice in this specific case.
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The updated guidance was only issued to officials operating at step 6 and above, it was never sent out to grass roots referees. The expectation at that level is still that referees follow the traditional approach unless a quick card will significantly help with that specific situation.
 
GraemeS said:
Jesus, you'd think I killed someone based on the angry response this post has generated!

You can do what you're comfortable with on your pitch. Forcing referees who are more comfortable with quicker cautions and a lower profile to make a big show of obvious cautions is dumb when no one needs the slow process any more.
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I'm not angry

On the subject of which, I use the slower process to exert influence
I'd back myself to make an angry player less angry by interacting with them. I'd back them to stay angry if I spurn that opportunity
Different strokes for different folks but when I see quick cards at County Level, it looks dismissive to me
 
RustyRef said:
The updated guidance was only issued to officials operating at step 6 and above, it was never sent out to grass roots referees. The expectation at that level is still that referees follow the traditional approach unless a quick card will significantly help with that specific situation.
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Yes. And that's still a dumb and outdated approach, regardless of what is expected.
 
GraemeS said:
Yes. And that's still a dumb and outdated approach, regardless of what is expected.
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You haven’t killed anyone but you are very disrespectful with the language you use - bad advice, dumb. You are not helping yourself. If you disagree with something, that’s fine, but there is a way in which to do it so not to alienate people & that’s to be constructive and fair minded with the language you use. And I’ve not seen any comments to say a Referee should be forced to do anything, let alone the technique for showing red/yellow cards.
 
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