First point:
No, I'm not trolling. I'm being honest about a decision I made, in one specific situation, where I did not follow LOTG. I'm trying to foster healthy debate through an honest appreciation of how I, personally, change my refereeing style dependant on the level of football and other things that, consciously or unconsciously, affect my game. That's clearly not working, judging by some responses.
We all know what you should do: in most cases LOAF is clear cut. But what's the point of a forum where we all agree? Let me make it clear again: I know I should not have made that decision. I know I was influenced by the player. I know I made an excuse not to send some one off. If I can not send someone off for a 'technical' offence - one where my match control will not be eroded by not sending them off - I won't.
The reason is because I don't want to send someone off. They are paying to play. They have a right to enjoy their Saturday as much as I have. we've all had those games where you think '**** this refereeing lark, I'm out.' I don't want a player to think '**** this playing lark, I'm out' because some over-zealous referee has sent them off at 15-0 over a nothing foul in the 85th minute. There is no difference in passion at SL and supply levels. But there is a difference in the end result. Two mid table teams in a park football league? The result means far less than two mid table supply league teams, where a place can equal £200 prize money, where the expectations are different, where the abilities are different. It is only at park level football, where I can 'get away' with fudging a decision to make players happy (and yes, again, I freely admit to wanting to make players happy above the sanctified laws) that I will do it. The laws are less sacrosanct here. The game is more free. My opinion, which will remain, is that the 'spirit' of the game is more important the sanctification of law, particularly at a lower level. If you want to disagree, please do. But it is an opinion - so please give me some reasoning behind yours in return, not a catch-all dismissal.
Second point:
You only have jurisdiction from entering to leaving FOP. FOP arguably includes dressing rooms and tunnel of a 'proper' ground. I've sent players off after the game for things they've done or said, but if they say something to me in the car park I can only report them for misconduct. If you send someone off before a game, the team may replace them with a named substitute,but may not replace that named substitute on the bench.