Have you ever felt that you’re booking too many players? Today I did a game which had 2 red cards and 7 bookings, all either persistent fouling, dissent or bad late challenges. Before I’d booked anyone I’d warned individuals, brought in the captains and warned them but nothing stopped this from happening. All players seemed to agree I was in the wrong and continued to contest and moan about every decision. I felt I’d lost control of the game but on my drive home, I couldn’t think of any way to deal with things differently. Have you ever had a game where you just think it doesn’t matter what you do, the outcome will always be the same?
Too many bookings
- Thread starter QuaverRef
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Yes, quite a few have gone south, usually starts with a bad tackle and the rest follows on with retribution stuff.
if they aren't understanding that you aren't putting up with certain stuff then more fool them for carrying on regardless!!! I doubt it was you, I highly suspect you just got some bad eggs!!
if they aren't understanding that you aren't putting up with certain stuff then more fool them for carrying on regardless!!! I doubt it was you, I highly suspect you just got some bad eggs!!
santa sangria
RefChat Addict
I had one the other week with 7 yellows and a red. I'd given clear warnings to captains and individuals. Both teams just wanted to kick each other, especially off the ball. One of my mentors said that dissent can "always be prevented". I don't agree. Sometimes players/teams go berserk - often due to their own actions.
Question: looking back, had you lost control, or were the players just out of control?
Question: looking back, had you lost control, or were the players just out of control?
I don’t personally feel I lost control as control was never there to be gained. As you said above, they seemed more interested in kicking each other than playing football. The game situation didn’t help, top of the league winning 10 in 10, playing a mid table side in the cup but going 2-0 down in the first 15 and not creating anything meaningful so the reaction was partially frustration, along with the mid table side clearly intending to constantly break up play
in the video i mean
I loved those games, beats a 10-0 cakewalk or a 0-0 bore draw!! At least you've something to do to earn your fee!!!
If they thought it was me, it was, it was me reacting to what they was doing!!! Great experience for the next time and a few glasses of bubbly for the FA at the Xmas do!!!
If they thought it was me, it was, it was me reacting to what they was doing!!! Great experience for the next time and a few glasses of bubbly for the FA at the Xmas do!!!
one
RefChat Addict
Completely disagree. Its an example of a game where the players act like pork chops no matter what you do. There was nothing else the referee could have done in that game. Both teams went into that game with a game plan of being physical and intimidating.
santa sangria
RefChat Addict
I was thinking the same. Match context is that players are sprinting to hack down opponents with no attempt to play the ball. Ref is showing cards. Players continue to make reckless fouls and borderline reckless fouls, and sprint to hack to down players with no attempt to play the ball... surprise there are more cards! Respect to the person in the middle!
one
RefChat Addict
For long I have been critical of associating a high card count with poor player management and match control without knowing all the facts. Unfortunately its done by many of our peers and its a major contributor towards less experienced referees not using their cards when they really should.
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Re the video, the only two decisions I disagree with are:
2nd tackle, which I think should have been a straight red, and the very last one which I think in any other match could have just been a freekick and that was the end of it.
Re: Too many cards, hah, I once went through a phase where for about 8 games on the bounce I had a red card out. I was new so it affected me because I wondered if it was an issue on my end. Ref's society said 'no, if it's red then it's red, keep them coming, they'll soon learn not to do stupid challenged under your watch.' Which I suppose is fair enough. Looking back, I think I was correct for all those reds, so I don't know why I let the doubt affect me.
2nd tackle, which I think should have been a straight red, and the very last one which I think in any other match could have just been a freekick and that was the end of it.
Re: Too many cards, hah, I once went through a phase where for about 8 games on the bounce I had a red card out. I was new so it affected me because I wondered if it was an issue on my end. Ref's society said 'no, if it's red then it's red, keep them coming, they'll soon learn not to do stupid challenged under your watch.' Which I suppose is fair enough. Looking back, I think I was correct for all those reds, so I don't know why I let the doubt affect me.
Yes. And every referee i know has had a few. Enjoy watching this game. Should make you feel better.
And how many of those cards could have been prevented had the referee correctly dealt with the hideous early tackle on Ronaldo? If you set that bar as only a yellow because it's in the first 10 minutes of a World Cup match, then you open up the possibility of the match going south.
one
RefChat Addict
Not any. (IMO of course). Did the first 12 yellows stop the 13th? Or the first 15 stop the 16th? As I said, players had a game plan and stuck to it. I have seen many games with missed red cards which didn't go south.
Blaming the referee for players' stupidity is a dangerous road to go down.
EDIT: I understand your point and there are times good games management can reduces cards. But at the end of the day players are responsible for their own actions not the referee.
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Of course. But this was World Cup knockout stage match in which a critical match incident involving the best player on the pitch was not properly punished. Hindsight is 20/20 because there is a decent chance the match is easily won by Portugal over the 10 man Dutch and they blame the ref for "ruining the game". We can complain about the issues with VAR, but at least moments of madness like that will be properly punished in Russia...even if its the first 10 minutes.
Yeah I personally think that's rubbish from your mentor. I ref in my uni league sometimes so know a lot of the players and the players all know each other so there's a lot of banter but also a lot of rivalry - players have told me they specifically go into games targeting players so the idea you can prevent it all the time is nonsense
santa sangria
RefChat Addict
To be fair, he is a great guy, has taught me loads, and gave that comment while lying in a hospital bed after breaking his collar bone two weeks ago... so, well, you know... let's take it as constructive criticism... could you have done more to prevent dissent?Glad they weren't my mentor. This one of yours clearly hadn't a clue.
In my case, in that game, I could have handled warning both teams better. I addressed all the players together and one captain interrupted me. I should have addressed both captains and obviously not let one captain interrupt me! So, on one hand, the teams were given a big warning (in addition to individual warnings), but on the other hand, that big warning might have chipped away at some match control as it was not as tidy as I would have liked.