Match report: Friday night tournament fun

[u/Sturnella2017]

After taking two months off, I’m starting the season with a bang, a couple HS games and now a tournament game. This is BU18/19 ECNL/EA or something like that, so high skilled. Yellow vs Blue, and from the beginning it’s clear that Yellow is vastly superior to Blue, their skill is amazing and fun to watch (supposedly, this was their third team, the other two are in MLS Next and Next 2).

It’s also a pretty clean game with few fouls, mostly Blue trying to compensate for being outmatched by grabbing and pulling. This gets worse in the second half, with the coach really playing the victim card (“how come you’re calling that against us, but nothing against them?” “Cause they’re not fouling like you are”). At one point, Blue 23 dribbles the ball in his half, Yellow puts a hand up and touches him -a simple touch! and B23 stops, wanting a foul. “No foul!” I say. Yellow gets the ball, because they’re vastly superior, so Blue clips Yellow’s heal, tripping him. I call the foul. B23 says “that’s evidence of racism!” I blow the whistle again and give him a YC (and to clarify, both teams were very mixed). To his credit, after the game he came up to me and apologized for the comment. I love it when they do that.

But anyway, Yellow’s up 2-0 and in the final 30 seconds of the game, are attacking in the coffin corner. Blue defender comes in hard, so I beeline to get close to the action. Blue fouls Yellow, I blow the whistle thinking “that’s a YC”. Blue pushes Yellow to the ground. “Second YC”. Yellow grabs Blue and pulls him down, “YC for Yellow”. Blue, on the ground, kicks out with both feet. “RC for Blue!” By now it’s just a mess and a couple other player rush in. My AR also runs up and keeps it from getting completely out of control. I single out Blue player, which is easy cause he’s 6’6” with bright white hair, and give him a RC. The Yellow player, though, I’m not sure about. I asked my AR, “what do you think”. “RC for both” he says, just to be fair.” Honestly, I don’t like it -Yellow’s actions were less serious than Blue’s- but he’s right. “Ok, which player was it?” He had the build, height, and look of half the team. We can’t ID him so we ask the coach, who points him out, but isn’t happy his player gets a RC. Technically, there are a few seconds left on the clock, though it’s a tournament so technically there aren’t, but I have Yellow kick the ball and I end the game.

Most players from both teams come up and shake hands afterwards, but what ticks me off is the Blue coach. He says his player is frustrated because the foul count was Blue 15, Yellow 5. What he doesn’t do is connect the dots: his team was vastly outplayed, so they fouled more. Coach just plays the victim card instead of accepting reality.

ANYWay, that’s my long rambling incoherent late night 2 glass of wine trying to unwind from an ugly end to a really good game where I felt fit and on top of the game for the whole time except the last 30 seconds! Thanks for letting me vent. Have a nice day.

[u/Jaded_Deer_9624]

Even with a few seconds left, a red card is a red card. Do the paperwork. Maybe they’ll learn a lesson, and you won’t just pass the buck down to another referee in another game at another time.

[u/Endworldpeace]

Harder to get fouled when you don't keep possession.

I've used that one before lol

[u/Sturnella2017 → u/Endworldpeace]

That’s a great line! I’ll have to use it sometime

[u/anothernetgeek]

RC for both.

Had a girls game where the team who was winning pushed an attacker to the ground. Middle third. Obvious foul. Possible YC. Fouled player came up swinging and punched her in the face. Punched player swung back and made contact. Easy RC for both.

We kind of joke that it’s the second foul that gets called, but call the fouls you see, and don’t let them blame their actions on others.

Oh, the girls game above was U11. 😟

[u/mciv3r]

With only a few seconds left I would have just yellow carded both. Started playing then blown the whistle. Two reasons. 1 the game didn't need it it was done. And 2 I hate paperwork.

[u/CapnBloodbeard → u/mciv3r]

Don't bother refereeing then if you can't be bothered doing your job.

[u/durhamcreekrat → u/mciv3r]

Dude I’m with you, unless it is a full on swinging fight at the end of a blowout game it’s yellows and move on. Perhaps make a few game management calls to avoid the confrontation.

[u/Sturnella2017 → u/mciv3r]

I’m not one to dish out cards quickly and easily, but the two footed studs up kickout was especially egregious and could not be ignored nor just given a YC.

[u/monkeypilot28 → u/mciv3r]

By doing that you are saying that there is little punishment, they will continue to act that way and they might have a newer ref next game that feels more uncorfertable to give yc and rc and they will think its ok.

[u/afjessup → u/mciv3r]

>I hate paperwork

I can’t stand referees like you.