I made my return to refereeing yesterday, first game after over a year out, it felt nice to be back.
A nice eventful game, both teams going for it quite nicely, a few niggles but nothing to write home about. Game finished 6-2 in the end, two penalties one for either team, no real complaints about either, gave a yellow to the away defender as he wrestled the attacker to the ground at a corner.
One of the other away defenders was a bit of a nightmare however. From the get-go, he was very vocal, even about the most obvious fouls etc. I've decided - mainly through reading the advice on here - to take a much firmer line on dissent from now on, so I called him in early doors told him that it was pointless, and frankly boring, to hear his voice all the time even for the most blatant things. His team weren't complaining so why was he. Thought that might do it.
Lo and behold, ten minutes later he tells me 'to give my head an f-ing wobble' - I called him in and booked him. A few more moans and groan in the second half, to which I told him several times, politely, to shut it. At this point his teammates are trying to rein him in. I've had words with his captain and teammates, they all accept that I'm being fair with him.
Ten minutes before the end he then asks 'if I was a green (home team) player in disguise' - called him over, told him was done, meanwhile he's aghast as I pull out the second yellow. He gave me a genuine look of surprise (how?) and trudges off.
Handshakes all round, his teammates are asking what he said, none seemed surprised and a few called him a 'liability'.
Since then, I've just been struggling to understand why someone, who knew what he's said and that he's on a caution, would keep on going. I guess I'll never know.
Anyway, nice to be back.
A nice eventful game, both teams going for it quite nicely, a few niggles but nothing to write home about. Game finished 6-2 in the end, two penalties one for either team, no real complaints about either, gave a yellow to the away defender as he wrestled the attacker to the ground at a corner.
One of the other away defenders was a bit of a nightmare however. From the get-go, he was very vocal, even about the most obvious fouls etc. I've decided - mainly through reading the advice on here - to take a much firmer line on dissent from now on, so I called him in early doors told him that it was pointless, and frankly boring, to hear his voice all the time even for the most blatant things. His team weren't complaining so why was he. Thought that might do it.
Lo and behold, ten minutes later he tells me 'to give my head an f-ing wobble' - I called him in and booked him. A few more moans and groan in the second half, to which I told him several times, politely, to shut it. At this point his teammates are trying to rein him in. I've had words with his captain and teammates, they all accept that I'm being fair with him.
Ten minutes before the end he then asks 'if I was a green (home team) player in disguise' - called him over, told him was done, meanwhile he's aghast as I pull out the second yellow. He gave me a genuine look of surprise (how?) and trudges off.
Handshakes all round, his teammates are asking what he said, none seemed surprised and a few called him a 'liability'.
Since then, I've just been struggling to understand why someone, who knew what he's said and that he's on a caution, would keep on going. I guess I'll never know.
Anyway, nice to be back.