This isn't something that actually happened, but more a hypothetical situation that could have arisen that I'm curious for your take on.
A game I had a few weeks ago was a bit feisty, and there was a minor confrontation between a player from team A and the manager of team B. The player wanted the ball back quickly, the manager held it a bit longer than he should have, so the player snatched it. I spoke to both of them and there was nothing else for the rest of the game.
Now, the ground in question has a clubhouse & bar with a viewing area for spectators that is directly above the touchline, about 10 feet in the air. It is easily close enough that a manager there could have continued to communicate with his players, direct substitutions, offer coaching advice. For all intents and purposes he would still be able to do everything he could do on the sideline, just from a slightly higher vantage point.
So, in the scenario where I did have to remove him, do you think it's reasonable to include a viewing area of that type as 'immediate surrounds' as defined in law? It isn't something I considered until after the game, but I suspect I'd have insisted he had to go into the changing rooms, but interested in others views?
A game I had a few weeks ago was a bit feisty, and there was a minor confrontation between a player from team A and the manager of team B. The player wanted the ball back quickly, the manager held it a bit longer than he should have, so the player snatched it. I spoke to both of them and there was nothing else for the rest of the game.
Now, the ground in question has a clubhouse & bar with a viewing area for spectators that is directly above the touchline, about 10 feet in the air. It is easily close enough that a manager there could have continued to communicate with his players, direct substitutions, offer coaching advice. For all intents and purposes he would still be able to do everything he could do on the sideline, just from a slightly higher vantage point.
So, in the scenario where I did have to remove him, do you think it's reasonable to include a viewing area of that type as 'immediate surrounds' as defined in law? It isn't something I considered until after the game, but I suspect I'd have insisted he had to go into the changing rooms, but interested in others views?