When you can't decide who's fouled who?

[Viridis1886]

Match earlier today, one of those where it is full of half n halfs and both team is as bad as the other. You want to slow it down a bit by pulling up a few fouls but really not sure who is the guilty party.

What are your tactics? Give the attacking team the benefit? Give the defending team the benefit? Does it depend where on the FOP? (Just try and keep it even!)

All suggestions gratefully received.

 

[OnlyUseMeWhistle]

Match earlier today, one of those where it is full of half n halfs and both team is as bad as the other. You want to slow it down a bit by pulling up a few fouls bit really not sure who is the guilty party.

What are your tactics? Give the attacking team the benefit? Give the defending team the benefit? Does it depend where on the FOP? (Just try and keep it even!)

All suggestions gratefully received.

I’m sure more experienced people with jump in with LOTG based suggestions which you should definitely follow but what works for me on a grassroots game:

who came in more recklessly or dangerously? Obviously if both are reckless then it’s a yellow for both. Pretty sure the law will say which offence happened first and usually that’s clearer.

 

[CA1992]

If you're looking to kill the game with soft free kicks where you could penalise either party, then penalise the one who's team would benefit most from the resulting free kick.

Better a soft one to the defensive team rather than attacking. Last thing you need is a debatable free kick that leads to a goal

be careful with the strategy though, going looking for fouls that may not be there could do more harm than help to match control

 

[Viridis1886]

If you're looking to kill the game with soft free kicks where you could penalise either party, then penalise the one who's team would benefit most from the resulting free kick.

Better a soft one to the defensive team rather than attacking. Last thing you need is a debatable free kick that leads to a goal

be careful with the strategy though, going looking for fouls that may not be there could do more harm than help to match control

That was exactly the dilemma this afternoon. I just wanted to take a bit of heat out. Both teams (as they always do) calling for fouls but no one obviously the 'more guilty'.

 

[Viridis1886]

I’m sure more experienced people with jump in with LOTG based suggestions which you should definitely follow but what works for me on a grassroots game:

who came in more recklessly or dangerously? Obviously if both are reckless then it’s a yellow for both. Pretty sure the law will say which offence happened first and usually that’s clearer.

Tackles today were mainly careless, but both sides appealing, me feeling I want to penalise something, but just not sure who!

 

[ASM]

Always find safe defensive free kicks when you need them, especially when you need a bit of game and tempo management.

Players will quickly forget them but they certainly won’t if you give soft attacking free kicks that lead to a goal!

 

[RustyRef]

Same as throw-ins when you aren't sure, always give to the defending team.

 

[PinnerPaul]

Also, to take the heat out of the game, even if only careless, nothing stopping you calling player over to talk to him. Gives everyone a chance to calm down, give him and your self time to get into position - there's no rush, and you'll find, a lot of the time, the atmosphere has calmed down.

 

[one]

Match earlier today, one of those where it is full of half n halfs and both team is as bad as the other. You want to slow it down a bit by pulling up a few fouls but really not sure who is the guilty party.

What are your tactics? Give the attacking team the benefit? Give the defending team the benefit? Does it depend where on the FOP? (Just try and keep it even!)

All suggestions gratefully received.

If you want to slow the game down then it must be because you want to improve your control. If it can be given either way then give it to the team that benefits most, your team. Thas is, call it the way that gives the most control over the game. Giving the free kick to the defending team is the likely scenario but does not necessarily gives the the most control all the time. For example if a team is very frustrated and behind by three goals and two minutes left to play, giving the 50-50 to the opposition, no matter attacking or defending, is not the best idea.

 

[Kent Ref]

Match earlier today, one of those where it is full of half n halfs and both team is as bad as the other. You want to slow it down a bit by pulling up a few fouls but really not sure who is the guilty party.

What are your tactics? Give the attacking team the benefit? Give the defending team the benefit? Does it depend where on the FOP? (Just try and keep it even!)

All suggestions gratefully received.

Sometimes you just have to guess and sell the decision with some sort of explanation. Bluffing i think it's known as.