At the latter end of the 2014 season club supporter Sandy MacDonald composed an enquiry to both the Waikato and the Auckland Referees Association asking why a section of Rule 12 was being ignored by referees.
That rule (in part) reads:
A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits any of the following seven offences:
– using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
The only response received was from Paul Smith of the Auckland Referees Association.
Below is the enquiry followed by the reply . . .
Sir
I am at a loss as to why the highlighted section of Rule 12 is regularly ignored by match officials.
There have been a large number of instances this season in Northern League matches where offensive language has been loudly used by players and this has, in large, been totally ignored by match officials.
Having talked with referees and linesmen on a number of these occasions this year about this lack of policing I have received the following responses:
1. “There were no women or children present on the sideline!”
2. “We have been instructed to close our ears and open our eyes.”
3. “The language is no different to that used by the community outside the game.”
4. “If we were to send one player off we would have to send them all off!”
5. “The language was not being directed at anyone.”
Perhaps the interpretation of the words “offensive”, “insulting” and “abusive” is the problem. Many of us (males included) have not been absorbed into the world of foul and abusive language and boorish behavior by players and therefore become reluctant to attend games with our families because of the potential to be forced to listen to what officials deem “normal behavior” by those players who act in such degrading ways.
I have often experienced that female referees do not have to suffer this degrading behavior by some of our footballers compared to male referees. This shows that the players can control their profanity and offensive utterances.
Several years ago the match officials clamped down severely on this aspect of Rule 12 and being a spectator was a much more pleasant experience.
I would like to know exactly what “interpretations” are being placed upon this aspect of Rule 12 as instructed to the match officials by their supervisors/trainers.
Sandy MacDonald,
Football supporter
A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits any of the following seven offences:
– serious foul play
– violent conduct
– spitting at an opponent or any other person
– denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
– denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
– using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
– receiving a second caution in the same match
Response
Sandy
Thank you for your email and concerns regarding the implementation of Law 12 at NRFL matches.
You are correct there is no definition of what is considered “offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures”
The final determination is down to the match officials at the game. Everyone has a differing tolerance level and match officials are no different in this aspect.
Every circumstance is also different in every situation in every game and dependant on the circumstance will be the response from the match officials. The response can be a variety of actions, depending on the circumstance. This can range from a quiet word to the person, a public warning to the person, a public warning to the team/team management and the ultimate sanction of a red card and depending on what is said and circumstances a yellow card could be issued for dissent – see attachment
I have attached a memo that New Zealand Football has issued to provide guidance to all match officials.
I am disappointed to hear the type of comments that have been advised to you as to why no action was taken. Point 2 and 5 does have some relevance in that it can be related back to the memo. The others could have been expanded by the official.
Football in Auckland is played mostly in open parks with perhaps a rope or metal barrier around the ground which means spectators are very close to the action and can hear everything that is being said by everyone from players, team management, spectators. This often means that every word spoken sounds loud and is audible and often just an instant reaction. I have to say some things that I have heard spectators say leaves a lot to be desired as well.
I trust this goes some way in giving you an understanding of the role that match officials have when looking at this aspect of Law 12 and its implementation at matches.
Regards,
Paul Smith l Referee Development Officer l Auckland Football Federation