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[Nevadaref]

There has been some debate as to whether the action of #9 warrants a send off under the LOTG. Remember that one of the seven listed offenses MUST be cited as the reason for the send off. So which of the seven could the referee use?

I can only see two possibilities. Either Violent Conduct or offensive, insulting, or abusive language and/or gestures.

VC does not seem to be the best fit as although the player did take the card he didn't seem to make physical contact with the referee and even if he did that contact certainly wasn't violent.

Therefore, declaring the snatching of the card from the referee's hand to be an insulting gesture seems to be the only reasonable justification for the send off.

I wonder what the official position of FIFA and the USSF is on this. Perhaps we will see a clarification memo from one of the governing bodies shortly.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

There has been some debate as to whether the action of #9 warrants a send off under the LOTG. Remember that one of the seven listed offenses MUST be cited as the reason for the send off. So which of the seven could the referee use?

I can only see two possibilities. Either Violent Conduct or offensive, insulting, or abusive language and/or gestures.

VC does not seem to be the best fit as although the player did take the card he didn't seem to make physical contact with the referee and even if he did that contact certainly wasn't violent.

Therefore, declaring the snatching of the card from the referee's hand to be an insulting gesture seems to be the only reasonable justification for the send off.

I wonder what the official position of FIFA and the USSF is on this. Perhaps we will see a clarification memo from one of the governing bodies shortly.

Certainly it is an insulting gesture. I also think any intentional non-friendly contact against the referee should be considered violent, and I don't see a difference between the referee and his cards.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

Certainly it is an insulting gesture. I also think any intentional non-friendly contact against the referee should be considered violent, and I don't see a difference between the referee and his cards.

You may well be in the minority thinking that this qualifies as VC. Here is what the LOTG says regarding VC on page 61:

"He is also guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against a team-mate or any other person."

Did the player use excessive force or brutality against the referee when taking his card? I seriously doubt it. Therefore, I'm against citing VC as the reason for the send off.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

You may well be in the minority thinking that this qualifies as VC. Here is what the LOTG says regarding VC on page 61:

"He is also guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against a team-mate or any other person."

Did the player use excessive force or brutality against the referee when taking his card? I seriously doubt it. Therefore, I'm against citing VC as the reason for the send off.

What's the appropriate amount of force against the referee? IMO, none. Therefore he used excessive force. But go with the easiest sell.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

What's the appropriate amount of force against the referee? IMO, none. Therefore he used excessive force. But go with the easiest sell.

Numerous people have expressed such a sentiment regarding similar situations. In this case, I don't have anything official which says that it is incorrect, but my opinion is that there is only one valid reason for sending off the player, and violent conduct isn't it.

Just my unauthoritative two cents.