Insulting Language

[easytiger]

Approaching the end of a non-eventful men’s match, and after a tackle by the touch line that results in a throw-in, the tackled player yells “ref he’s just kicked me in the back, you f*cking pr*ck”. I called him over and issued a red card for OFFINABUS. Blew the final whistle very soon afterwards.

After the match the player approached me and insisted that he hadn’t directed the insult towards me, but to the other player. I said that my interpretation was that it was directed at me and therefore the red card stood.

Any thoughts? What are other referees’ tolerance levels towards that kind of language?

 

[Herts Ref]

Would be a straight red for me

 

[bester]

It would be still a red card if it was directed at the player.
Although the ordering of words makes it very unlikely the words weren't directed at you!

 

[easytiger]

It would be still a red card if it was directed at the player.
Although the ordering of words makes it very unlikely the words weren't directed at you!

It did occur to me (afterwards) that it is technically still a red card offence, regardless of who it was directed at. That said, players at this level are constantly swearing at at other, pretty much every game would have to be abandoned if I sent everyone off for it

 

[ChasObserverRefDeveloper]

You were correct to issue the red card in this instance.
Many referees at your level have taken to using the Sin Bin approach early in the game for any dissent bordering on O/I/A language . . .