The Referee

Last weekend I had a really enjoyable game where the players listened and responded to what I said and was trying to do.  This led to an enjoyable game which was a pleasure to Referee.   This Saturday though was the complete opposite and made me wonder if it would be so simple if everything was black and white.

I was Referee’ing the Senior League fixture between Thurmaston & Anstey Nomads.  Anstey took an early 1-0 lead and were having the majority of the possession in the early part of the first half.  After about 30 minutes Anstey felt they should have had a free kick, I felt not and the ball went out for a goal kick.  I legged it away up to the half way line to get away from any confrontation and turned around to find the two players squaring up to one another.   So move back in, pull them out.  Theres been hand bags so im going to give them both a public dressing down and leave it at that.

Unfortunately both players want to carry it on so I end up issuing a caution to both off them.   I then get players saying you didnt see anything so how can you caution them.   When I try to explain the reason why there not interested.

In the 44th minute the Anstey player and the a Thurmaston player both go into a challenge.  The Anstey player then takes a flick out at the Thurmaston player after the ball has gone.  I clock it but Thurmaston have a good chance on goal so I play on but tell the Thurmaston player im coming back so leave it.   The ball goes out eventually for a throw in to Anstey.  I call the player over and issue a 2nd caution and dismiss him from the field of play.   I then get two minutes of hassle and end up going in at half time with 3 cautions from no where.

I find at half time that the Anstey bench saw the incident and had no issue with the sending off.  As I take to the field of play a player appologies and calls his team mate an idiot.   What is annoying though is the goalkeeper asks why I ahd booked him first time.  When I explain the reasons why my answer is clearly wrong as he doesnt want to listen.

We start the 2nd half and a few on the Anstey players are moaning continuously about decisions.  They seem to want every free kick going.  The Anstey goalkeeper seems to want to walk each goalkick and take his time over these.  I ask him that although he is intitled to take the kick from which side he wants, to speed it up and at least make an effort.

 Midway through the 2nd half I award a penalty to Thurmaston.  Now apparently I couldnt wait to give this and imagined the arm across the back of the players neck and the push to the ground.  If i had been rushing to give a penalty I could have given the one 5 minutes earlier where the was calls for a shirt hold.   During the setup of the Penalty the dissent is carrying on from the Anstey players and I advise a player any further dissent and he will be cautioned.     Thurmaston score to make this 1-1.

Then the problems start.     Thurmaston have the ball around 18 yards from goal out on the wing.  The defender has the ball and no one is within 20 yards of him.   He miscontrols the ball when reciving it, it flicks up hits his hand and he continues his run.   The ball is played down the wing theres a foul, ball breaks I play an Advantage, Thurmaston carry on and score 2-1.  Great Advantage im feeling happy and surrounded by Anstey players.    They want to know how I couldnt give the hand ball however dont want to know the answer to the question.   Yes there was a handball however it was not intentional, it was accidental.  He didnt gain any advantage he already had possession.  It didnt take it away from an opponents.  If he had been closer then yes I would have blown up but not in this case.

 Two of the Anstey players will not move away or leave it alone and continues with the dissent and so I end up cautioning them both.     All communication has now broken down and everything I do is apparently against them and personal.  One of the players Ive cautioned ends up going in late by the dugout and so ends up getting a 2nd yellow.   I also end up cautioning up two further players (one the goalkeeper) from Anstey for dissent.

With 10 minutes to go the Thurmaston player  I have already cuationed commits a reckless foul on his opponent catching him in the knee.   As I send hm off he gives me some abuse which I have also reported.   Of course I have apparently sent him off to even up the numbers.  In the last couple of minutes I play another advantage for Thurmaston to win 3-1.  

I decided to hold back until the players have gone to save going into a problem.  As I leave the field, the Thurmaston player asks me calmly why I sent him off.  I explain that it was for a 2nd caution for the a reckless challenge.  He responded it wasnt reckless.  I said that in my opinion it was a reckless challenge, to which he cuts me off and says “your opinion counts for fuck all”.   So further report there.

Im then walking back to the changing room and a spectator follows me and says I hope we never see you again ( I respond wrongly probably “ill see you 2 weeks when I have you in the County Cup” and continue walking away.   I get back to the area outside for the changing room and look around for my assistants and there not there.   However this spectator is who continutes to give me abuse.  When I advise him that I shall be reporting him, im told that I cant do anything as he is a member of the public on a public park.  I explain that i shall still be reporting him and walk in the changing room.

A few minutes later I get a knock at the door and its a member of the managements team who apologies for this person.  I explain that I appreciate him coming in, however shall still be reporting him, but would mention that you came in.

So I leave thinking was it me.  Its sounds very righteous but thinking about it now I dont belive it was.  Could I have avoided it.  Yes I could.  I could have let the players constantly give me shit and then I wouldnt have had 4 of the cautions and ended up sending one off.   However while I want to get my Level 3 and I am looking to manage situations where possible.  I will still do the job correctly and will not shirk my responsibility’s.