Yellow, or red?

I was reffing an U16 game today and a player on the blue team was upset that some decisions had not gone his way, and some were given against him. Had already warned him earlier in the game about dissent and also spoke to the captain.

5 minutes to go he goes into the box and is tackled by a yellow defender, the ball going out for a corner. He appeals for the penalty and when I tell him the tackle was good and it is a corner, he says I might as well put a yellow shirt on. It wasn't loud, and I was the only person who heard him say it.

Here is the question, would you give a yellow for dissent, or a red for essentially calling me a cheat?

I went yellow and sin binned him, but keen to understand what other refs would do. Had he outright called me a cheat, it would have been red, but I'm questioning my decision.

I think in this situation a yellow is best. Especially as you are the only one who heard it, making a red extremely difficult to sell. However, if you were offended by the comment, then you could justify OFFINABUS. It's all down to personal judgement with these sorts of offences.

Appropriately dealt with for me. You’ve already warned his, and he’s not taken the hint. Another stupid comment and he can explain (or lie, deny and defy) to his manager as to why he’s off for a bit.

I'd support the red if you gave it. He was calling you a cheater.

socal lurker said:

I'd support the red if you gave it. He was calling you a cheater.

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Likewise, but I reckon a yellow doesn't catch anyone out. Easy to explain.

I think at that volume a yellow is an easy sell - if said loudly a red would also be fine. Sounds like you managed it well - only person who didn’t manage the situation well was the player.

I’d be tempted to call the captain back in, tell him what he said and that he was lucky it was only a yellow as could easily have been a red card.

RustyRef said:

I’d be tempted to call the captain back in, tell him what he said and that he was lucky it was only a yellow as could easily have been a red card.

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It's often the captain Who is the culprits

Glad you used "tempted". The decision to do so or not should be based on selling the sin bin and overall match control. Each game is different. Getting the captain in can help or backfire.

one said:

It's often the captain Who is the culprits

Glad you used "tempted". The decision to do so or not should be based on selling the sin bin and overall match control. Each game is different. Getting the captain in can help or backfire.

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Exactly that. If it was said quietly it probably helps to sell it by explaining what was said, even more so when the words used could easily be a straight red.