How would you handle player calling the opposite club assistant 'cheat'?
- Thread starter CrossRef
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Club Assistant or Neutral AR, they are part of my team... It's a Red Card - I've had to do it when a player was clearly upset with an offside decision. In my view, the decision was also correct, which whilst that wouldn't change my decision to Red card someone calling him a cheat, but did make it easier.
this might be controversial, but I think if I sent off every time someone on a sunday league pitch said 'the lino's cheating' then I'd have had a red card most weeks. Context of how it's said is vital. 'You're a f*cking cheat' aggressively directed at them... red card all day. 'Stop cheating' in a less aggressive manor may draw something different.
ChasObserverRefDeveloper
Regular Contributor
Red card - the one "c" word most officials treat as a red.
Feeling this is going to be unpopular.
Sending a player off for calling a CAR a "cheat" is a massive overreach.
Let’s be realistic, Club ARs often lack the fitness, concentration, or neutrality required for the role, often guessing in favour of their own team.
We’ve all seen the YouTube clips of managers screaming "get the flag up" while a distracted teenager blindly obeys. Whilst a player who might have started their run, 10-15 yards onside sees their goal chopped off.
Use the step approach, like any other player to player interaction.
Shield your CAR and show them the respect they deserve for taking on this role, by blowing on dissent early, deliberately to drown it out and draw the heat toward yourself. You are the match official not the CAR, it is your decision. So if your CAR flags offside, and you agree. That is your decision, let the players know it and move on.
If you’re dismissing players for a trumped up 'calling a match official into disrepute' charge, when they vent an obvious frustration, you’ve lost touch with the game. In fact, some biased CARs love the victory of getting a player sent off.
Sending a player off for calling a CAR a "cheat" is a massive overreach.
Let’s be realistic, Club ARs often lack the fitness, concentration, or neutrality required for the role, often guessing in favour of their own team.
We’ve all seen the YouTube clips of managers screaming "get the flag up" while a distracted teenager blindly obeys. Whilst a player who might have started their run, 10-15 yards onside sees their goal chopped off.
Use the step approach, like any other player to player interaction.
Shield your CAR and show them the respect they deserve for taking on this role, by blowing on dissent early, deliberately to drown it out and draw the heat toward yourself. You are the match official not the CAR, it is your decision. So if your CAR flags offside, and you agree. That is your decision, let the players know it and move on.
If you’re dismissing players for a trumped up 'calling a match official into disrepute' charge, when they vent an obvious frustration, you’ve lost touch with the game. In fact, some biased CARs love the victory of getting a player sent off.
What about the CARs who are fit and diligently applying themselves to the role to the best of their abilities and being a valuable member of your team? Would it be a massive overreach to red card a player who called them a cheat?
Yes.
So I assume as well it would be a massive over each if they called you a cheat as well?
No. As I am paid to be the neutral party and calling me a cheat is a serious attack on my integrity and reputation. Implying the opposition aren't neutral (eg a CAR), is not news to anyone.
Don't apologies. Refereeing has a large subjective element to it. Many people handle situations differently.
If I notice dissent to the CAR. I would blow the whistle to interrupt the dissent. I would bring the player over and tell them it is not CAR who makes the final decision, it is me the referee who is making the final decision. I would utilise the stepped approach and tell them calling the CAR a cheat isn't acceptable. Then I would carry on.
However, the word 'cheat' to a CAR, is not an OFFINABUS trigger in my personal opinion. It does require a robust public rebuke. Others like @Hilly1618 @DavidObs @ChasObserverRefDeveloper @cdsman and many others may disagree and I respect that they do as this is definitely a grey area.
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ChasObserverRefDeveloper
Regular Contributor
Would any verbal offence to your CAR, heard by you, result in a dismissal?
In my experience. I don't think any CAR is expecting red card for being called a "cheat". But if said aggressively towards them. They do expect you to deal with it.
I judge on the heat of the game. Low temperature. I tend to manage it with a word or the stepped approach. Higher temperature. I go for the sin bin.
If they say it to me or my neutral assistant then all bets are off. It's a red all day long.
I judge on the heat of the game. Low temperature. I tend to manage it with a word or the stepped approach. Higher temperature. I go for the sin bin.
If they say it to me or my neutral assistant then all bets are off. It's a red all day long.