Blues v Greens this morning. Match starts well, competitive spirit but nothing dirty. 3 early goals make it 2-1 to blues.
With 13 mins played, free kick awarded to greens close to the edge of blues penalty area. Before it's taken, at the halfway line, green player goes down, obviously struggling to stand, nowhere near anyone. I sprint over, ask what's wrong and he says 'I think i'm having a stroke ref, I can't see', and he then has a fit for about a minute. Ambulance is called etc. After about 35 minutes, the ambulance departs with the green player and one of his team mates in the back.
So now I'm trying to gauge how to players are feeling, whether the match can continue. To be honest I was 50/50 as to whether to abandon or not. I called both skippers and managers over, asked them if they were happy to continue, they said they were and that their players were as well. I got all the players together and checked this, and they were happy to continue, although the spark and competitiveness had clearly gone from the game. Both teams agreed to and the match continued after restarting with the green FK but three quick goals to the blues made it a nothing affair, by half time the greens' heads had totally gone. Nothing nasty, they just didn't want to play anymore as they were now getting battered.
With 2 mins to go, green keeper handles the ball outside of his area (accidentally), stopping a shot that was clearly going in. Clear DOGSO to me, so I produce the red and send him on his way. Then, protests from the greens AND blues, saying that in the context of the game I didn't need to send him off, and that I had ruined the game. Almost had the green team walking off the pitch. After a few minutes, play finally restarts, the blue team knock it to the keeper and I blow up for full time. Then have both teams asking if I'm going to send the card in, I say yes, and it erupts again. Greens all protesting about how i've ruined the game, blue manager saying that I shouldn't send the card in, all in all it seemed a bit ridiculous to me as it was a clear red.
Anyway, I want to know what people's opinions are on restarting that match in the first place. I was 50/50 and in hindsight I probably wouldn't have restarted it with the length of the delay. Thoughts?
With 13 mins played, free kick awarded to greens close to the edge of blues penalty area. Before it's taken, at the halfway line, green player goes down, obviously struggling to stand, nowhere near anyone. I sprint over, ask what's wrong and he says 'I think i'm having a stroke ref, I can't see', and he then has a fit for about a minute. Ambulance is called etc. After about 35 minutes, the ambulance departs with the green player and one of his team mates in the back.
So now I'm trying to gauge how to players are feeling, whether the match can continue. To be honest I was 50/50 as to whether to abandon or not. I called both skippers and managers over, asked them if they were happy to continue, they said they were and that their players were as well. I got all the players together and checked this, and they were happy to continue, although the spark and competitiveness had clearly gone from the game. Both teams agreed to and the match continued after restarting with the green FK but three quick goals to the blues made it a nothing affair, by half time the greens' heads had totally gone. Nothing nasty, they just didn't want to play anymore as they were now getting battered.
With 2 mins to go, green keeper handles the ball outside of his area (accidentally), stopping a shot that was clearly going in. Clear DOGSO to me, so I produce the red and send him on his way. Then, protests from the greens AND blues, saying that in the context of the game I didn't need to send him off, and that I had ruined the game. Almost had the green team walking off the pitch. After a few minutes, play finally restarts, the blue team knock it to the keeper and I blow up for full time. Then have both teams asking if I'm going to send the card in, I say yes, and it erupts again. Greens all protesting about how i've ruined the game, blue manager saying that I shouldn't send the card in, all in all it seemed a bit ridiculous to me as it was a clear red.
Anyway, I want to know what people's opinions are on restarting that match in the first place. I was 50/50 and in hindsight I probably wouldn't have restarted it with the length of the delay. Thoughts?