Case Study: A Send-Off Early In The First Half


Case Study # 17-2013
Date 20 Apr 2013
Competition Barclays Premier League
Fixture/Result Fulham 0 – 1 Arsenal
Referee/Badge Andre Marriner, FIFA
At Issue The referee sends off a player after only 11 minutes

After only 11 minutes of this London derby, Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell committed a studs-up tackle on Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta. ย Referee Andre Marriner did not hesitate to produce a red card, despite the early time of the match (though he started to show the card to Sidwell while the player was still on the ground, a mechanical no-no).

We often hear talk about how we should strive to “keep our cards in our pocket” in an attempt to manage a game effectively. ย While that is true, we must also keep in mind that there are certain instances of misconduct where referees are given no discretion. ย These scenarios are known as “100% Misconduct” offenses. ย Guidance from FIFA and our federations dictate what a referee must do in these situations.

Referee Marriner was faced with a 100% Misconduct offense in this situation. ย Sidwell’s tackle is clearly executed with a level of aggressiveness that endangers the safety of an opponent. ย That being the case, the guidance we have received from USSFย mandates a send-off.

It takes courage and conviction to administer a send-off early in a match; we must be mentally prepared to do so when necessary.

 


3 responses to “Case Study: A Send-Off Early In The First Half”

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