Evaluation of camp observer

[refprof]

Went to a camp this weekend, and had a disagreeable situation made worse by the observer watching my game. We were working on 3 person officiating and my crew (I was acting as Referee as I was the most experienced) worked the second half of a closely competitive game (high school varsity).

Within 5 min, it was obvious that the teams did not like each other and the game started getting rougher. We signaled each other it was time to watch and call more contact to control the game better. After a few calls, I made an off-the ball call for grabbing a cutter (from the C position). I take a few steps towards the play winding up about 5 feet from the two players who had turned around and were facing each other. I started screaming at them to break it up (had to, games were progressing on both sides of us). One shoved the other, and immediately, a teammate shoved the initiator. I grabbed the shovee, my partners grabbed the shovers, and we were busy sorting it all out, ejecting two and identifying the players who had left the bench.

Now, the observer comes over from the far side line screaming and taking “control” over the situation. There was no mistaking that he was taking role of MFWIC (Mother f**ker whats in charge). He sorts it all out, talks to the teams, and begins to berate me for not being in control of it all.

Now, here some questions:
1. It was recommended that I should have stepped between the players as they were ready to take physical action rather than screaming at them and blowing my whistle.
2. Was the observer correct in taking action? Or, should he have stayed there and taken the opportunity to observe and evaluate our (my) ability to restore order and control?
3. If your evaluation is that he was incorrect to insert himself, should I follow up with the camp director? (Of course, the observer is now broadcasting to everyone that I failed in my duties.) By the way, the observer failed to notice that players had left the bench. If I retained control, I was about to terminate the game, as there were too few players to continue.