General Chat

Can somebody please tell me, yes or no,for definite, the answer to the following: Is it legal/allowable for a Cup match (under 11's) to be reffed by the brother of one of the teams playing, in his official capacity as referee? I have looked at the rules on the league website, but cannot find the answer. Thanks, Carol.

nudge nudge nudge nudgie noo

the 3 refs I have here say NO way,...... unless the brothers have different surnames and then no1 notices

In our little league, ALL officals in cup games ...... lines and refs...... HAVE to be independant/neutral from the teams playing

Just asked a friend who is a ref for adults and children and he says no they have to be independant

Thanks for your replies. As I suspected. Our under 11 team, for which my son plays is currently in dispute with the league. To cut a long story short, the ref looked about 11-12 (but turned out to be 14) and was clearly intimidated by the players, who were all as big as him. He was indecisive and changed his mind several times with regards to decisions. I personally felt sorry for him as he shouldn't have been put in this position - I emailed the league to say as much and received a snotty reply telling me how the league secretary did not enter into correspondence with parents!! Anyhow, the opposing team took a shot which was cleared off the line by one of our players. As you can imagine, our players celebrated, hugging each other, as you would (quarter final of the cup). The ref GAVE the goal!! Parents of the opposing team were stood next to me and I asked them if the ball went in, they all replied no. Our Goalie (who is the mildest mannered player on the pitch) swore at the referee, who promptly swore back at the goalie and sent hime off!! After the match, we heard a rumour that somewhere along the line the ref was related to the other team, either via a player or the manager of the opposing team. In my email to the league secretary I asked if this could be looked into and confirmed or denied - it was completely ignored. Top and bottom of it is that our goalie has now been banned for 35 days!!! Now, having access to Ancestry and now knowing the refs name and approximate age and presuming his area of birth was the same as the area he was playing in, I found him on Ancestry. My son prior to this had said that he thought his brothers name was *****, not a common name, but not unheard of. Sure enough on checking any more children born in the same area, right age and same mothers maiden name, I found one with the name ****. What can we do??? We have appealed the ban, but really feel that the whole mess would not have come about if there hadn't been an allegience to the other team. As it is, we are left with no goalie for 5 weeks (he plays for another team on Saturdays with us, in the Inter League and for the school team, so in effect a 35 day ban might mean a 5 match ban for another player, but for our goalie it can be up to 20 games!!). Sorry for the rant, any suggestions welcomed. Best wishes Carol

OH just looking into this for you,, but says re the swearing.... if a player swore for whatever reason he had to leave the pitch and be banned ( length of ban to be determined by league).... BUT the ref should also have left the pitch as he also swore.

Can you tell me where exactly where in countryyou are?? PM if want. He has found a website that gives you the relevant county FA you can call them if...... you have a query about a ruling, or a dipute that affects your club. At the end of the day he says all clubs are accountable to the FA

Shelli, thanks have PM'd you. ********* It wasn't a stand in ref, he was the official ref for the game, in all the kit, and named on the website. Thanks Carol

****** *******, what is BJFL? Thanks Carol.

Carol just read your comment to OH about him being offical ref, not stand in......he pulled all sorts of faces LOL

Carol I saw that comment too, cos asked hubby what the intials stood for.

Sorry my pc's messing. Won't even show my name! I will sort it. Didn't think the message showed. Anj

Very interesting!! Did anybody notice that a reply has disappeared, the one talking about stand in referees? AND I think the rule 13b in BJFL that this person refers to, is the actual league I am talking about. Not worried about who is on here, but why delete the reply? I am just asking a civil question and hoping for correct answers, any help appreciated. Thanks, Carol.

Carol was just laughing with hubby - must be the week for disputes as our sons team is also involved in a dispute LOL also the a cup game, but ours was semi finals.

Helllo Anj Are you connected in any way to D* L******? Best wishes Carol

Shelli, good luck to him - so long as he is not playing us!! Best wishes Carol

Okay, he can win then, obviously,and I hope he does!!!! Best wishes Carol

The ban is normal ...yet unfair, your manager should take the case for you and complain, My son swore the same and had to do his ban, so unfair for them but your manager should sort it. It should also go into the ref report done by your teams manager at the of each match ...good luck.

Carol Not a chance we're in South London