Evening all. I had my first game in the middle of a Sunday league game yesterday. It was a 'top of the table' clash and both teams were aware before kick off that I was a 'newly passed' referee. Maybe not the best game to have been given and thrown in the deep end!
The first 20 minutes went pretty much without incident until an off the ball scuffle which resulted in 2 players rolling around on the floor. It was quickly split up and both teams were claiming that punches were thrown. I didn't see any punches and gave both players a yellow card. One of the players did have a black eye and the other a ripped shirt, so they had clearly had a proper go at each other. Neither player was happy and insisted it was the other player that started the incident.
My reasoning for the yellow was a few factors including, not seeing any punches, that it was my first game, It's a Sunday league game and this was the first issue in the game. At half time I heard the home player say "I'm going to break his legs second half" referring to the player from the away side that he had the altercation with. I wasn't sure whether I should have taken action there and then, but I made sure I kept an eye on him second half.
The away side were far better with the ball and moved it quickly, which meant the home team were second to pretty every ball and were catching the opponents late, so there was no tempo to the game as I was constantly blowing for fouls and I tried to give a fair few advantages and let a couple go but it was clear the away team were not happy and started asking me to take action.
The second half was very much the same. I started issuing yellow cards to the home side for late and persistent challenges. The home players were getting more and more frustrated with my decisions. I sent one of the home players off who then kicked the ball at me whilst walking off the pitch.
I started getting comments from the home players to my face saying "I hope you quit refereeing after todays game", "You're s**t" and "You're not fit to referee".
My question is what action would you take hearing these comments. Can I issue a yellow card for such comments? One of the players directing abuse was the team captain and the manager on the side lines wasn't a fan of mine either.
Having spoken to the league and other teams this particular team have a 'reputation' to be difficult and poor discipline, If I had use the sin-bin I could of probably of thrown 5 or 6 of the players in there!
The first 20 minutes went pretty much without incident until an off the ball scuffle which resulted in 2 players rolling around on the floor. It was quickly split up and both teams were claiming that punches were thrown. I didn't see any punches and gave both players a yellow card. One of the players did have a black eye and the other a ripped shirt, so they had clearly had a proper go at each other. Neither player was happy and insisted it was the other player that started the incident.
My reasoning for the yellow was a few factors including, not seeing any punches, that it was my first game, It's a Sunday league game and this was the first issue in the game. At half time I heard the home player say "I'm going to break his legs second half" referring to the player from the away side that he had the altercation with. I wasn't sure whether I should have taken action there and then, but I made sure I kept an eye on him second half.
The away side were far better with the ball and moved it quickly, which meant the home team were second to pretty every ball and were catching the opponents late, so there was no tempo to the game as I was constantly blowing for fouls and I tried to give a fair few advantages and let a couple go but it was clear the away team were not happy and started asking me to take action.
The second half was very much the same. I started issuing yellow cards to the home side for late and persistent challenges. The home players were getting more and more frustrated with my decisions. I sent one of the home players off who then kicked the ball at me whilst walking off the pitch.
I started getting comments from the home players to my face saying "I hope you quit refereeing after todays game", "You're s**t" and "You're not fit to referee".
My question is what action would you take hearing these comments. Can I issue a yellow card for such comments? One of the players directing abuse was the team captain and the manager on the side lines wasn't a fan of mine either.
Having spoken to the league and other teams this particular team have a 'reputation' to be difficult and poor discipline, If I had use the sin-bin I could of probably of thrown 5 or 6 of the players in there!
