Junior/Youth Possible mistaken identity for Red Card and what to do if in doubt

[MH_386]

For context this is my second game I’m 18 years old and still completing my 5 games;

Had a game today U15’s, last game of the season for both teams three minutes to go till the final whistle Player 4 from the away team (Team B) puts in a challenge in gets a YC from me, no complaints, with 10 seconds to go ball is in the box with home team (Team A) attacking.

Two home defenders go into one man. My view of it (having been 3 meters away) was Player 4 who I booked moments ago kick the ankle of the Team A attacker, of course it’s a penalty

Immediate protests from Team B as I sent Player 4 off for a second yellow, they were saying it was not him with Player 6 literally begging me saying “ref it was me”

My question is how should we as referees deal with these situations where you’re in doubt on what to do, should I have given myself more time to think about the decision rather than just going with my gut and sending him off?

 

[Tealeaf]

Let’s start with a “what if?”

Thinking time is helpful. But if after thinking time you still went with punishing 4 and 6 claims to be the offending player, are you going to be in any different position than now? Could you have players then claiming you still weren’t sure and picked the wrong player?

Maybe in this case it was genuinely 6 who made the foul; then again maybe it’s an attempt to save his teammate?

In these situations if you’re certain, and it seems you were from reading this then go with it. If there’s any doubt at all beforehand then don’t go to the caution stage. Just give the penalty and be done with it.

And on that note, a question. You say a defender kicked the attacker’s ankle. Presumably this isn’t a violent act but about missing the ball entirely. What made you feel the challenge warranted a caution? Would the penalty on its own have sufficed?

Now onto the possible mistaken identity. Don’t worry. Let the club and FA handle it. They’ll be asked for evidence if they claim mistaken identity and if they don’t or can’t offer it, it’ll stand.

 

[MH_386]

Let’s start with a “what if?”

Thinking time is helpful. But if after thinking time you still went with punishing 4 and 6 claims to be the offending player, are you going to be in any different position than now? Could you have players then claiming you still weren’t sure and picked the wrong player?

Maybe in this case it was genuinely 6 who made the foul; then again maybe it’s an attempt to save his teammate?

In these situations if you’re certain, and it seems you were from reading this then go with it. If there’s any doubt at all beforehand then don’t go to the caution stage. Just give the penalty and be done with it.

And on that note, a question. You say a defender kicked the attacker’s ankle. Presumably this isn’t a violent act but about missing the ball entirely. What made you feel the challenge warranted a caution? Would the penalty on its own have sufficed?

Now onto the possible mistaken identity. Don’t worry. Let the club and FA handle it. They’ll be asked for evidence if they claim mistaken identity and if they don’t or can’t offer it, it’ll stand.

Sorry I should have clarified, yes the defender despite having attempted at the ball missed the ball entirely, the reason I felt a caution was necessary was due to the fact that there was a chance that the attacker was just about to play the ball to a teammate but was fouled, hence why I felt the penalty on its own wouldn’t have sufficed.

The reason it wasn’t a DOGSO was because the attacker didn’t have a clear cut chance at taking on the shot even if the defender had not made the challenge

 

[Archer]

“Reckless”

Job done

 

[The Gump]

@Tealeaf has dealt with the mistaken identity issue. As for the second YC, here's fan edited list from IFAB's LOTG:

Cautions for unsporting behaviour​

There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour including if a player:

• commits in a reckless manner a direct free kick offence
• commits any other offence which interferes with or stops a promising attack, except where the referee awards a penalty kick for an offence which was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball
• denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing an offence which was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball and the referee awards a penalty kick

If you've issued the second YC for a reckless challenge, it was the correct decision. If you've issued it for SPA, as your post implies, but the challenge wasn't reckless and was a genuine attempt to play the ball, it isn't YC.

Regardless, for your second game I'd simply say well done for not being afraid to use your cards. My first RC wasn't until year two, though I had only been refereeing U12s and U13s in year one.

 

[MH_386]

@Tealeaf has dealt with the mistaken identity issue. As for the second YC, here's fan edited list from IFAB's LOTG:

Cautions for unsporting behaviour​

There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour including if a player:

• commits in a reckless manner a direct free kick offence
• commits any other offence which interferes with or stops a promising attack, except where the referee awards a penalty kick for an offence which was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball
• denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing an offence which was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball and the referee awards a penalty kick

If you've issued the second YC for a reckless challenge, it was the correct decision. If you've issued it for SPA, as your post implies, but the challenge wasn't reckless and was a genuine attempt to play the ball, it isn't YC.

Regardless, for your second game I'd simply say well done for not being afraid to use your cards. My first RC wasn't until year two, though I had only been refereeing U12s and U13s in year one.

Thanks for that, my first game was actually U18’s, I did the opposite to what most do, started with U18’s then the game mentioned above was U15’s and then two hours later I did a U13’s

 

[The Gump]

Thanks for that, my first game was actually U18’s, I did the opposite to what most do, started with U18’s then the game mentioned above was U15’s and then two hours later I did a U13’s

Fair play. Two schools of thought - start lower and work up or just chuck yourself in at the deep end. Both have plusses and minuses, and it's whatever works for you.