Peter Landis
New Member
How do other referees deal with grudge matches? Turned up to ref a game at the weekend, was greeted by home team players warning me it was going to a tough match to ref today.
First 10mins uneventful, then it started to heat up. Nasty tackle from away team CB that received a yellow card. From that point I could have booked every player for fouls. No abuse or trouble directed at me, just two teams who appeared to hate each other. Half way through first half, I issued red card to away team striker for aiming punch at opponent. Next clash saw home team player through a punch which lead to mass brawl. I stood back and started to note numbers of main instigators, but after 10mins picked up the ball and walked off and called it a day. Tensions were still there as teams walked into changing rooms, I felt best to keep my distance so just picked up my bag and left to go home and fill out report form.
Is there anything else I could have done early on, or was it as I suspect going to kick off whatever I did ?
First 10mins uneventful, then it started to heat up. Nasty tackle from away team CB that received a yellow card. From that point I could have booked every player for fouls. No abuse or trouble directed at me, just two teams who appeared to hate each other. Half way through first half, I issued red card to away team striker for aiming punch at opponent. Next clash saw home team player through a punch which lead to mass brawl. I stood back and started to note numbers of main instigators, but after 10mins picked up the ball and walked off and called it a day. Tensions were still there as teams walked into changing rooms, I felt best to keep my distance so just picked up my bag and left to go home and fill out report form.
Is there anything else I could have done early on, or was it as I suspect going to kick off whatever I did ?