I sent-off a player.  Now what do I do?

 Nobody likes paperwork.  But when you show a red card and send-off a player it is not only important that you promptly and properly complete the paperwork, it is required.  It’s part of the job of the referee. 

We hope the following information will be helpful to both beginning and experienced referees.  One of the frustrating things for those involved in the administration of this sport are send-off reports that are poorly written, don’t provide the information needed and are not on the appropriate form.  Both experienced and inexperienced referees create these frustrations.

You are to complete and forward to the appropriate authority a report of any send-off you have in a match within 24 hours of the incident.  When you are involved with a tournament, you need to complete the report as soon as the match is completed, if possible.  Not only is timeliness important for administrative purposes, but the sooner you complete the report after the incident, the better your memory is of the specifics.

Who are the “appropriate authorities”?  Typically, it is a PAD Committee, with PAD meaning Protests, Appeals and Discipline.  If you have a send-off and don’t know to whom to forward your report, check with the assignor of the match.  They should know, and they might also be a good resource for checking your information.

Make sure you have blank copies of the CYSA “Referee’s Send-Off Report”.  If you are reading this you have access to that report.  There’s a link to the approved form at the beginning of the Referee Page on this website.  This report is the only one to be used for send-offs involving youth play in Northern California .

Essentially, the form is divided into three sections: Game and Player Information, Reason for Send-off, and the Explanation.  Additionally, there is space on the first page of the form for information concerning the name and phone numbers of the referee and assistant referees.  The referee needs to provide that information to the committee in case they want further clarification.  Also, on the bottom of the second page there is space set aside for notes concerning the disciplinary committee action.  The referee leaves this space blank.

Under Game and Player Information, the referee is required to list a number of pieces of information, none of which should be difficult to provide.  The “Registration # ” is on the player pass, and the player pass MUST be submitted with the report.  This is why you collect the player passes prior to a match – so that if you do need to keep a player pass you have it.  After a game during which you have a send-off, consult with your Assistant Referees to assure that the crew of officials agree that the pass you are maintaining and not returning to the manager of the team is indeed the player in question.  The information you forward to the Disciplinary Committee includes the report, the player pass and the game card (properly completed, of course).

Please note that the “Time of Foul” means the point during the match that the send-off occurred.  During what minute of the match was the player sent-off?

At the bottom of Game and Player Information is a box you can check as to whether the send-off is a player or a coach.  Technically, a coach is not “sent-off”, they are “dismissed”.  As you know, yellow and red cards are for players and named substitutes only, so if you do dismiss a coach, it is not correct to show them a red card.  CYSA allows you to use this report form for the dismissal of a coach, even though it should be labeled as an “incident report” and not a “send-off”.  The important issue, however, is that if this does involve a coach that you provide the scope and type of information needed by a disciplinary committee to appropriately deal with irresponsible behavior by team officials.

 The next section lists the seven Reasons for Send-off listed under Law 12 of the Laws of the Game.  If you send-off a player, it must be for one these reasons.  Do you know the difference between Serious Foul Play and Violent Conduct?  If not, you need to find out.  Consult the “Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game” for additional guidance.  If you don’t have a copy, you can obtain one through the United States Soccer Federation, or view it online at:

          http://dps.altdc3.va.twimm.net/USSF/doc/content/doc_6_41.pdf

The final, and most important section, of the report is the “Explanation” of the situation that created the need for a send-off.  What you need to do is paint a picture with your words of why the player was sent-off.  You need to include when the event occurred, who was involved, how the violation took place, and what was the aftermath of the occurrence.  The Disciplinary Committee relies on the information you provide to determine how many games the player will be suspended.  If you give the Committee little or no information to go on, then they will be forced to minimize the suspension.

It is not your job to recommend how many games you think the player should be suspended.  Never indicate your opinion on this matter when you complete a report.  If you feel as though the send-off was for a particularly egregious foul, for example, make sure the Committee knows what happened in detail and let the process take its course.

 Here’s a sample of what should be included in an explanation on a referee’s report.  We don’t have space to give you samples of every type of send-off.  But make sure that every report you write contains the key elements that are within the following:

 “In the 79^th minute of play, the Red team was building an attack near midfield.  Red player #19 was in possession of the ball at his feet and was looking downfield to distribute the ball.  As he was doing so, Blue player #7 (Bob Martinez) tackled Red #19 from behind, with cleats up, making forceful contact with the player’s calf and clearly endangering the safety of the opponent.  Play was stopped, and the trainer for the Red team was called onto the field to treat #19.  Mr. Martinez was shown the red card and sent-off for Serious Foul Play under the provisions of Law 12.  Mr. Martinez did not leave the field of play immediately.  Rather, he remained on the field for thirty to forty seconds, haranguing the referee concerning the red card.  After being restrained by his teammates, he did finally leave the field without further incident.  Red player #19 was assisted from the field with an apparent injury to his left calf.  After a substitute entered the field to replace the injured player, play was restarted with a direct free kick for the Red team at the spot of the foul.”

Are you able to visualize the event after reading this explanation?  That is the purpose of the report, and should be your goal every time you have to issue a send-off.  Also, if there is offensive, insulting or abusive language involved in your send-off, you need to specifically spell out what language was used and to whom it was directed.  This, again, is important to the disciplinary committee.

 None of us enjoy sending off players.  But when you do, it is very important that they be dealt with appropriately and that his or her punishment is commensurate with the type and nature of the offense.  That’s why we have reports.  And it is your job as a referee to do the best job possible in completing those reports.  MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU WRITE IS LEGIBLE!!!  None of this will matter if the committee can’t read your writing.