The Ref Stop

OFFINABUS or not?

TheFoodieReferee

TheFoodieReferee

Member
Level 5 Referee
Hey,
I had a game a few weeks back, where a player went in for a tackle, it was hard but not reckless enough to warrant a YC. However, the tackled player stayed down with an injury to his leg. The offender, in his infinite wisdom, decided to come back across and try to provoke an altercation, I managed to keep him away while the injured player was getting treatment, however he started to call the injured player 'a puff'. I warned him about this twice to no avail. He used it again so issued a YC.

It's been on my mind for a couple of weeks now, in the LOTG, where do you actually stand on this as I'm assuming, if it's OFFINABUS, it really comes down to your judgement and how offended by the language you are or would you just pull a red straightaway?
 
The Ref Stop
JamesL said:
Thats offinabus requiring a red card reported along with an extraordinary report as it is a homophobic comment.
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I know it’s homophobic but if this was a 14/16yr old game should we take into account that calling someone a puff really meant he was soft. It wasn’t actually meant in a homophobic way. I’m only asking to play devils advocate.
 
Therealcjhill said:
I know it’s homophobic but if this was a 14/16yr old game should we take into account that calling someone a puff really meant he was soft. It wasn’t actually meant in a homophobic way. I’m only asking to play devils advocate.
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Nope. Because actually the reference to being soft is, I believe, indirectly aimed at gay people and retains the homophobia.
There are some subjects that just can't be overlooked. And anything that borders on a protected characteristic just has to be dealt with.
 
Therealcjhill said:
I know it’s homophobic but if this was a 14/16yr old game should we take into account that calling someone a puff really meant he was soft. It wasn’t actually meant in a homophobic way. I’m only asking to play devils advocate.
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In 2022 no school child of secondary school age is using puff to mean "soft" without an awareness of the homophobic connotations. If they said in earshot of a teacher at school, they'd be in serious bother. Same thing on a football pitch.
 
I would suggest even thou you have not send off for it, send in a extraordinary report anyway (we call it incident report). It must be dealt with retrospectively. Unless this sort of behaviour is punished accordingly, it continues in the game. If they want to ignore it, it won't be on you.

It was a mistake not to send off, you didn't have much time to think about it. Not to report will be another mistake but this time you have plenty of time to think about it. Apologies for being so direct and blunt.
 
You really have no choice here, no matter the age of the players, it has to be a red card and an extraordinary incident report. If the clubs report it you are then going to have a very difficult call from your RDO or CFA discipline team asking why you haven't reported it. You then either have to lie and say you didn't hear it, or explain why you didn't send off and report, and would be highly likely to be charged and suspended.
 
I gave 2 red cards for this last season along with extraordinary reports.

Just not acceptable even if an accidental slur.

Players and managers didn’t question or dispute it either.

Trust your gut in these situations and take a couple of seconds to think (it will feel like a lifetime - but will be very short)
 
SurreyWolves said:
I gave 2 red cards for this last season along with extraordinary reports.

Just not acceptable even if an accidental slur.

Players and managers didn’t question or dispute it either.

Trust your gut in these situations and take a couple of seconds to think (it will feel like a lifetime - but will be very short)
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They will always ask why but as soon as you tell them they realise very quickly that said player is in a lot of hot water
 
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