Disrespecting the Authority of the Match Official
Often referred to as “dissent,” this is the lowest level of abuse. It involves questioning a decision, which can manifest verbally or through gestures such as sarcasm, throwing the ball away, or refusing to cooperate. Persistent appeals or foul language can increase the seriousness of the offense.
Possible on-field responses include:
Awarding a penalty and issuing a verbal or formal warning.
Reversing a penalty decision with a warning.
Moving the offending team back 10 meters with a warning.
Issuing a yellow card for serious dissent.
Issuing a red card for continued challenges or swearing.
If you have issued a red card we will have a record and will track the issue.
However, with the increase in Match Offical Abuse, we are effective from Feb 2025 seeking feedback and details if you as a referee or a match official developer witness dissent.
Please click on the link below and give brief details.