Keeping a form of control on ‘industrial language’ is one of those niggling refereeing problems. The referee has the power of dismissal for this criteria:
using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
The language in question can be in use in any way: Towards the referee, towards a player’s own team, the opposition, a spectator… It just has to be deemed to fit the criteria by the referee.
The problem is: Where do you draw the line? An instinctive expletive after missing a goal? Frustration at an incomplete pass? A cry out in pain after a dodgy tackle?
In my last game acting as Assistant, the referee took great control of this. He briefed the managers and captains that he was not going to tolerate any swearing other than the instinctive type. Now, most referees will take firm action at any such language towards themselves but he was implementing a general policy.
It worked really well. He was very stern with those who went against it and the clamping down really helped with showing authority and good match control. I have had very good games where the only complaint afterwards has been about the language: “There were children present” / “There are houses bordering the ground” / “We tell our players to keep it clean; what about the opposition?”
Of course, NOT doing anything about it is still complying with the Laws of The Game, as this is one where it is down to the opinion of the referee as to what is offensive or not! However, is it right?
I’m going to give this one a whirl in my next game as I feel I may have been a little soft on general swearing up to now. Wish me luck!
It is all well and good Referees clamping down on swearing at Supply level and below but until it is taken seriously in the televised leagues then I think us refs are on a hiding to nothing.
How many times have you seen Premiership players mouthing off directly to the Referee or his Assistants and nothing being done? it seems that it is one rule for us and another for them.
Lambo, I totally agree. Have you had any experiences with managers who have had a real positive impact on this sort of thing?
This is always an emotive subject in refereeing.
My question is this: where, in the LOTG, does it say this offence is “in the opinion of the referee”?
I have looked, really i have, and cannot seem to find that qualifying statement anywhere.
And this is the problem with this offence. Who needs to find it offensive before the referee takes action? I can pretty much guarantee that, if they were honest, there will always be someone at every match at parks level who gets offended by the language.
But it’s not only “offensive” language that is a problem…there’s “insulting” and “abusive” to consider. Sometimes the language can tick all 3 boxes, but it only needs to tick one for the referee to show the Red card.
A pet hate of mine is refs who caution players (yellow card) for this offence. If the language was such that the ref had to take action, there is only one sanction allowable under the Laws, dismissal. Anything else is the ref bottling it.
As a district-level referee, I deal foul and abusive language in my pre-game with both teams. I tell them no foul or abusive language to the other team, their teammates or myself. The latter I added last year after a kid directed an f-bomb regading my allowing the advantage. His father is a former Canadian international that I will not name. He did come and apologize after the game.