Ethics or Not?

[cowbyfan1]

This was brought up in a game I had as well. Team A down by a ton and fixing to punt. Only 10 players on the field. A11 comes running on late with 2 of his chin straps (one on each side) unsnapped and flapping like a bird's wings. He tried to snap one side and could not and he gets set. I blow my whistle and flag him for it. I was told I was "rubbing it in" and to let it go in a blow out. It was obvious to everyone in the stadium this kid was not legal and I also looked at it as a safety issue. So was I wrong?

Side note. The HC of that team started chirping at me for calling it. I finally told him "did you not say before the game all your player were legally equipped?" He said "yes." So I told him "then consider yourself lucky that I flagged him for a 5 yarder instead of you for a 15 yarder." I know that it really does not work that way but it clammed him up quickly.