Dissent after the final whistle

[DChall96]

Be interested to get feedback on this…

Reffed a game at the weekend which had a real underdog feel to it from the league table. Third were away to second bottom in a 12 team league.

Game finished 2-0 to home side. 4 cards (3yellows, 1 red) issued all to the away side. Yellows for persistent fouling, a reckless challenge and SPA. Red was for OFFINABUS.

After the game, I’ve walked out the changing room and I’m greeted by away manager who asked why I sent off his player. I told him it was for OFFINABUS as his player loudly called me a “f*cking d*ckhead”.

I was informed, unbelievably, that this was not OFFINABUS, merely dissent. (Even funnier when it was a player who I had just cautioned… so would’ve been walking anyway )

He proceeded to say I was useless all game and proceeded to make a number of derogatory remarks about my ability as a referee. He also insinuated that I was bias due to an earlier game in the season I reffed where they lost 3-1.

I laughed it off and walked back to my car. It was the first time I ever really had this happen to me. I’m only in my second season as a referee and applying for promotion when the window opens…

What should I have done? Should I submit a misconduct report? Any advice moving forward?

 

[RonnieM]

I'm still early in my 1st season so not speaking (or writing) from experience.. As hard as it seems, I believe coaches are allowed to have opinions on our ability and ask about our decisions, but they should never question our neutrality. Insinuating isn't really the same as accusing so I'd be looking for a coach basically state I am biased or I am a cheat before I would think more about it. I'd basically be saying back to him, that he, and coaches like him are the reason they struggle to find referees for games because nobody wants to work alongside people who have no respect for them. It isn't them that suffer either it is their players who really just want to play football. So they can either have respect for the game and those who run it or they can sit down on a Saturday Morning and explain that he is the reason they cannot get a ref (I doubt they ever would have the honesty to do that but still) for their game.

 

[socal lurker]

Were it me, I would absolutely make a report. But I’m in a different structure, so things may be different.

I'm still early in my 1st season so not speaking (or writing) from experience.. As hard as it seems, I believe coaches are allowed to have opinions on our ability and ask about our decisions, but they should never question our neutrality. Insinuating isn't really the same as accusing so I'd be looking for a coach basically state I am biased or I am a cheat before I would think more about it. I'd basically be saying back to him, that he, and coaches like him are the reason they struggle to find referees for games because nobody wants to work alongside people who have no respect for them. It isn't them that suffer either it is their players who really just want to play football. So they can either have respect for the game and those who run it or they can sit down on a Saturday Morning and explain that he is the reason they cannot get a ref (I doubt they ever would have the honesty to do that but still) for their game.

There is a story in the US about a baseball manager who got frequently tossed from games for his abuse of umpires. The story goes that he was livid about a call and went out to complain. Getting nowhere, he said to the umpire, “you can’t toss me for what I Think, can you.” The umpire agreed he could not. So the manager said “I think you’re a f-ing, etc.” and for some reason he was tossed.

Coaches are entitled to all the opinions they want. They are not, however, entitled to express them in derogatory ways, as described, the coach was well over the line even before he insinuated bias. Especially as this was not in the hear of the moment after a perceived bad call, but after the game, confronting the ref after he’d had time to change.

 

[one]

Be interested to get feedback on this…

Reffed a game at the weekend which had a real underdog feel to it from the league table. Third were away to second bottom in a 12 team league.

Game finished 2-0 to home side. 4 cards (3yellows, 1 red) issued all to the away side. Yellows for persistent fouling, a reckless challenge and SPA. Red was for OFFINABUS.

After the game, I’ve walked out the changing room and I’m greeted by away manager who asked why I sent off his player. I told him it was for OFFINABUS as his player loudly called me a “f*cking d*ckhead”.

I was informed, unbelievably, that this was not OFFINABUS, merely dissent. (Even funnier when it was a player who I had just cautioned… so would’ve been walking anyway )

He proceeded to say I was useless all game and proceeded to make a number of derogatory remarks about my ability as a referee. He also insinuated that I was bias due to an earlier game in the season I reffed where they lost 3-1.

I laughed it off and walked back to my car. It was the first time I ever really had this happen to me. I’m only in my second season as a referee and applying for promotion when the window opens…

What should I have done? Should I submit a misconduct report? Any advice moving forward?

It has to be reported or he'd keep doing it to other referees.

As a general advice, and what works for me, when managers (or players) approach you after the game and often start with "can I ask you a question", you almost certainly know if they genuinely want to have an answer or if they want to argue and tell you that they know better. If I feel it's the latter, I make it clear that I would not like to get into a discussion or argument about my decisions. I'm happy to answer his question but no follow ups. And I'm am fine if he doesn't agree with my answer. Then proceed to answer his question.
While not responding to a query when asked politely (in the first place) is unprofessiinal, nothing good comes out of getting into a discussion or argument with an unhappy manager/player. Explain "no discussions", provide the answer and walk away if they follow up.

 

[Gabriel]

Report the player who continued to make those offensive remarks. They’ll keep doing it to other referees if it isn’t reported, and it is quite simply unacceptable behaviour. Whether the CFA charge them is not up to you, but you can at least report it.
Edit: apologies, misread the OP. Report the coach who made those remarks!

 

[ChasObserverRefDeveloper]

Report the cub official through the normal channels and advise the Secretary and Appointments Secretary of the league, please.
If referees don't report misconduct of this nature, it will continue and get worse.
Well done for sharing and asking.

 

[JamesL]

Be interested to get feedback on this…

Reffed a game at the weekend which had a real underdog feel to it from the league table. Third were away to second bottom in a 12 team league.

Game finished 2-0 to home side. 4 cards (3yellows, 1 red) issued all to the away side. Yellows for persistent fouling, a reckless challenge and SPA. Red was for OFFINABUS.

After the game, I’ve walked out the changing room and I’m greeted by away manager who asked why I sent off his player. I told him it was for OFFINABUS as his player loudly called me a “f*cking d*ckhead”.

I was informed, unbelievably, that this was not OFFINABUS, merely dissent. (Even funnier when it was a player who I had just cautioned… so would’ve been walking anyway )

He proceeded to say I was useless all game and proceeded to make a number of derogatory remarks about my ability as a referee. He also insinuated that I was bias due to an earlier game in the season I reffed where they lost 3-1.

I laughed it off and walked back to my car. It was the first time I ever really had this happen to me. I’m only in my second season as a referee and applying for promotion when the window opens…

What should I have done? Should I submit a misconduct report? Any advice moving forward?

Yes I would submit a misconduct report.

Keep it brief, concise and factual.

How long After the match ended, this person approached me, in this location. he made the following comments "xyz". This made me feel. This is the action I took.

As hard as it seems, I believe coaches are allowed to have opinions on our ability and ask about our decisions, but they should never question our neutrality. ..

They can have an opinion but they are not invited to give it.
Whilst some leagues allow an opportunity to seek clarification it is not an entitlement. These conversations need to be brief and purely for clarification purposes. They often turn into the former ie giving and opinion/appraisal on what they thought of your performance at which point everyone is best ending it there otherwise we then end up with the OP scenario where we have to report misconduct

 

[lincs22]

He proceeded to say I was useless all game and proceeded to make a number of derogatory remarks about my ability as a referee. He also insinuated that I was bias due to an earlier game in the season I reffed where they lost 3-1.

The very definition of post-match abuse. You need to report as a misconduct report to the CFA and to the league for improper conduct by a team official.

He will learn quickly not to open his mouth, if he doesn't like your performance