@Kent Ref apologies for not answering your question last night... When I say "smash the keeper".... What I've found (as a player) is if you are "mugged off" like this, you want to seek a bit of payback. So, if the keeper has the ball at his feet, does his dance and says what he does, next time instead of running towards the keeper, the player may slide in to the keeper, probably hitting him on his way through. That is what I meant by the term "smash". Particularly in open age, a yellow card would be worthwhile for the attacker if it meant getting your own back. After taking a hit, the keeper won't be in a hurry to do that again.
As a referee, you'd have to be weary of that occurring because 9 times out of 10, particularly in OA football, a player who has been slightly humiliated will seek some form of revenge. You cautioning the keeper won't change that. You'll just have to be weary of it.
Taking the piss isn't an offence. It's not gentlemanly, but it's not contravening the good-book. We can't just make up additional sanctions for law 12. I can see why you would thing it is USB, but I personally don't think this falls into that catergory.
I'm happy to answer any questions but I feel that this may be a topic where we just end up going around in circles. The general consensus is that it was a harsh booking. It is certainly a situation which should have been managed instead of going straight in with a caution.
Referee head off. Player, manager, FA Respect and Behaviour committee member and League committee member head on. Whilst I understand why you would caution here (at the end of the day, it is your interpretation of USB), you have to look at the bigger picture. If a player deserves a caution, caution him/her. If a player deserves a red card or misconduct, do it. But don't do it just for the sake of it. In Cornwall, we are losing teams left right and centre and whether we like it or not, we also play a part in the success of a club. After pitch expenses, in many cases the referee fees are the next biggest expenditure at any club. They don't just pay our fees, they also contribute towards the CFA Appointments Officers piggy bank. Each team has to pay a fee to their CFA, as do the league's. this amounts to thousands of pounds. The teams deserve to be treated accordingly. An example of how cash-strapped a club is... My first game of this season I officiated two teams, both of which contained friends of mine (I know people at most clubs down here). Midway through the second half, a friend of mine put in a two footed challenge on another. After I allowed the advantage (to which they scored), I sent the player (my friend) off. I knew their club was struggling behind the scenes but it was my duty to register the sending off, which I did. That was the end of that club; they are still Sine-die'd now because they weren't able to afford the fee. My point being, one card can make a big difference. At grassroots, if you can manage offences, please do! That said, if the act of a player warrants disciplinary measures, it is our duty to carry them out.
Football is losing participants left right and centre at an alarming rate. It is down to all of us from the spectators, to the players, management teams, club committees, officials, league members, the CFA's and the FA to try and do our bit to save it.
