MumRef
Member
This wasn't my best game ever. So, U15 Cup game, both in the Premier league. Team A winning 2-1. I blew for a push in the box from a corner kick against Team A. I could tell immediately from both sides that it shouldn't have been a penalty and it would have been unfair to change the game on the basis of this one. So I annulled it. Similar thing happened at the other end a little while later - a challenge which I thought looked like obstruction and a push (it just looked a bit wrong, I can't remember why). I blew for a penalty. Surprise all round. Consulted with the AR (a parent so possibly not neutral but seemed to be very experienced) and he said no foul. Decided to annul it to even it up as I hadn't been sure, and that way I had annulled each end.
In professional games, or with proper ARs, you get the chance to change your mind, but not at this level. I know it undermined my authority but I was trying to be fair. There was carnage from the parents of Team B at me doing this. I actually spoke to the respect official who, rather than backing me up, explained why they were all having a go at me, because they felt I was being inconsistent (Team A had a yellow card by now so I certainly wasn't favouring them).
Anyway, should I just have gone with the penalties, even if I felt I had blown too hastily? The team and the managers were very good (or I couldn't hear the managers) but the parents were a bit raucous. I'm not so concerned about whether the decision on a penalty was right or not, but what should I have done when I realised it hadn't been a foul? (If the team who gain the penalty kick seem surprised and delighted, that makes me think twice. I expect the offenders to object so that doesn't influence me as much.) Match ended 3-2 to Team A. Actually a very good game and fairly tolerant on the pitch.
In professional games, or with proper ARs, you get the chance to change your mind, but not at this level. I know it undermined my authority but I was trying to be fair. There was carnage from the parents of Team B at me doing this. I actually spoke to the respect official who, rather than backing me up, explained why they were all having a go at me, because they felt I was being inconsistent (Team A had a yellow card by now so I certainly wasn't favouring them).
Anyway, should I just have gone with the penalties, even if I felt I had blown too hastily? The team and the managers were very good (or I couldn't hear the managers) but the parents were a bit raucous. I'm not so concerned about whether the decision on a penalty was right or not, but what should I have done when I realised it hadn't been a foul? (If the team who gain the penalty kick seem surprised and delighted, that makes me think twice. I expect the offenders to object so that doesn't influence me as much.) Match ended 3-2 to Team A. Actually a very good game and fairly tolerant on the pitch.