Dave Sherwin
Referees in the Cayman Islands
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2012
- Messages
- 283
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So, for the first time in about three years, I had "one of those games", where no matter what management tools I brought to bear, the game just slowly (or at times rapidly) spiraled out of control. I would have gone home desolate, but for the fact that (unusually) I was doing two games back to back and the second was a fantastic, fast, flowing match played in excellent spirit and with high skill levels. The first, though, was dire. Both teams, despite the usual PMB, just seemed intent on providing the infuriating constant "advice / commentary" to the referee, with all decisions seemingly up for debate. After 11 minutes I advanced a "feeding" free kick following green scrum half's OTT verbal response. After 19 minutes, I stopped play to penalise green No. 8 for shouting "for Fxck's sake ref, he's in the fxcking side" and issued him and his captain a team warning. On 29 minutes (when green had just scored and the decision had attracted strong verbal opprobrium including profanities from unidentified players), I called both captains together in the centre spot for a long talk. For once (both knowingly and intentionally) I backed myself into a corner and informed both captains that the next piece of advice, of whatsoever nature would result in a penalty and a yellow card. I noted that whilst playing discipline had generally been good (5 penalties in total), verbal discipline had been appalling and I simply was not willing to continue in that vein. Both captains were given fully 90 seconds to convey this to all players. From the kick-off, a knock-on and a scrum. As the front rows assemble, the red loosehead starts telling me that green tighthead is always binding early. I smile and say, "Come on, what have we just talked about?". "I know, sir, but he's been at it all day and twisting in...". I blow time off, call the captain and award a yellow. Never in a million years would I normally give a yellow for that level of banter, but the total disorder of the previous half-hour left me feeling that I honestly had no choice but to show I was not willing to continue with the non-stop chat from both side. As I produce the yellow, red loosehead then says, "Oh go on then, ref, why don't you just give me a red?". I obliged. This morning, I discover that the player is requesting that both cards be rescinded and that I issue a written apology as these are the first cards he has received in his 17-year playing career. I am dumbfounded. Anyone else ever been asked to apologise after issuing a card?