I've been meaning to post about this experience. I have not been on for a while.
In December I refereed a fixture, thought I had a great game, 6 cautions, three for each side. Unfortunately and there's always one, an away player constantly questioning every decision to the point he was cautioned for dissent. Towards the end of the game, a flash point, two players following a tackle, square up to each other, heads close (no headbutts), both were cautioned for AA.
Full time, the player I cautioned for dissent (mid 40's) is at the side of the pitch. I see and hear him clearly shout "c*&t, c*&t, c*&t" and "disgrace" he makes eye contact with me and points at me. Following this, as game KO'd late, fault of the away side I had not had my match fee, the player shouting at me is the club contact. I speak to the captain and said could he retrieve my match fee, he agrees. He comes back to me to say the club contact is refusing and wants to hand it to me personally. I agree but state to the captain please run ahead and say anything further said will also be reported to the FA. The club contact says "you cautioned me as you don't like me, like my woman and your woman." I have no idea what he is going on about. I get my match fee and walk away.
Misconduct Report filed with my respective CFA.
I got a text the following day from the secretary for the away side commenting on how good I refereed, despite me cautioning three of their players and commented what an idiot the player was who was causing problems. This is rare. I get emailed by league secretary who has been contacted by away side and state the same thing.
The player in which I filed a misconduct report requests a personal hearing. No biggy, I have been to hearings before. I work in the Police so I am used to giving evidence, it does not phase me.
I get to the hearing, which I don't mind. The player admits to using the words, admitted pointing in my direction but said it was towards someone behind me...? He has a witness, one of his teammates, he admits using swear words too and also the word "c*&t" . He admits referring to "my woman" when he eventually gave me my match fee and said he shouldn't of said it. It was silly. I went away thinking well he is bang to rights, as panel decide on the balance of probabilities, thus what is more likely than not, 51%, everything I have said in my report is factually correct word for word, it is not disputed apart from the player says he was referring to someone else.
I phone my CFA the following day to get the outcome, I am told "not proven" thus on the word of a player who has admitted that he repeatedly called "someone" a c**t. I am thinking what else can I do as a referee in this position if I am alone, if I am part of a trio then its a lot different. Its just annoying as in any other walk of life, he would have been arrested for Public Order.
I was furious. I spoke to a fellow refereeing colleague to vent my anger. Advice was move on, at these hearings as soon as you leave, then forget it. I felt let down by my CFA, especially when something like this happens, if someone was weaker I would not argue someone leaving refereeing as this type of abuse is not on.
I am interested for your comments and if anyone else had a similar experience.
In December I refereed a fixture, thought I had a great game, 6 cautions, three for each side. Unfortunately and there's always one, an away player constantly questioning every decision to the point he was cautioned for dissent. Towards the end of the game, a flash point, two players following a tackle, square up to each other, heads close (no headbutts), both were cautioned for AA.
Full time, the player I cautioned for dissent (mid 40's) is at the side of the pitch. I see and hear him clearly shout "c*&t, c*&t, c*&t" and "disgrace" he makes eye contact with me and points at me. Following this, as game KO'd late, fault of the away side I had not had my match fee, the player shouting at me is the club contact. I speak to the captain and said could he retrieve my match fee, he agrees. He comes back to me to say the club contact is refusing and wants to hand it to me personally. I agree but state to the captain please run ahead and say anything further said will also be reported to the FA. The club contact says "you cautioned me as you don't like me, like my woman and your woman." I have no idea what he is going on about. I get my match fee and walk away.
Misconduct Report filed with my respective CFA.
I got a text the following day from the secretary for the away side commenting on how good I refereed, despite me cautioning three of their players and commented what an idiot the player was who was causing problems. This is rare. I get emailed by league secretary who has been contacted by away side and state the same thing.
The player in which I filed a misconduct report requests a personal hearing. No biggy, I have been to hearings before. I work in the Police so I am used to giving evidence, it does not phase me.
I get to the hearing, which I don't mind. The player admits to using the words, admitted pointing in my direction but said it was towards someone behind me...? He has a witness, one of his teammates, he admits using swear words too and also the word "c*&t" . He admits referring to "my woman" when he eventually gave me my match fee and said he shouldn't of said it. It was silly. I went away thinking well he is bang to rights, as panel decide on the balance of probabilities, thus what is more likely than not, 51%, everything I have said in my report is factually correct word for word, it is not disputed apart from the player says he was referring to someone else.
I phone my CFA the following day to get the outcome, I am told "not proven" thus on the word of a player who has admitted that he repeatedly called "someone" a c**t. I am thinking what else can I do as a referee in this position if I am alone, if I am part of a trio then its a lot different. Its just annoying as in any other walk of life, he would have been arrested for Public Order.
I was furious. I spoke to a fellow refereeing colleague to vent my anger. Advice was move on, at these hearings as soon as you leave, then forget it. I felt let down by my CFA, especially when something like this happens, if someone was weaker I would not argue someone leaving refereeing as this type of abuse is not on.
I am interested for your comments and if anyone else had a similar experience.
