From: janko@microsoft.com (Jan-Paul Koren)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Need Advice/Comments(Long)
Date: 28 Sep 1992 14:49:56 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

I need some quick opinions and advice from our great rec-sport-soccer 
netters.  I coach a gold division Boys U-12 team.  This weekend we 
played a game which I feel was ill officiated.  I have never been 
involved in this type of situation before.  In all my years of playing 
I am usually the one to be calm and rational when things look 
unsettled.  This time even I couldn't sit still:

The game was going well and in our favor.  We were totally controlling 
the midfield.  The goalie on the
other team was outstanding.  He knew when to come off the line and 
stopped about 5 one on ones.  We were up 2-0 at half time.  Just after 
the half started one of our players broke away from their defense and 
was heading into the goal.  He was about 2 yards to the right of the 
center of the goal and 10 yards out.  One of the defensive players that 
was in pursuit of him was just behind and to the left of him with about 
7 yards to go.  The defensive player then stuck out his right leg and 
clipped the left foot of my player causing quite a spectacular take 
down of a break away.  The ball was being dribbled with my players 
right foot and was nowhere near the tackle.  The ref then blew his 
whistle and of course I knew we had a penalty kick coming, as well as 
perhaps a card or a little lecture for the fouler in question.  To my 
stunned amazement the referee not only awarded a indirect free kick but 
placed the ball 7 yards further back and at a more difficult angle than 
anywhere that any part of the play took place.  Then he neglected to 
say a word to the Fouler!

My first reaction was instinctual.  I yelled from the side line, "Isn't 
this supposed to be a penalty kick?".  He waved to me (to quiet me I 
suppose).  So I told him we could talk after the game.  At this point I 
was just confused.  My players had asked me about this type of 
situation many times.  If someone is on a break away and you cannot get 
to the ball do you take out the player?  My answer has always been, No, 
at the level we play it's very important to be good sports about the 
whole thing and to try to stop the break away legally.  One of my 
points of reasoning is that the other team would get a penalty kick and 
you could possibly get carded.

The rest of the game was relatively uneventful.  Except for about 3 
more very hard fouls by the other team. One of the fouls was not even 
awarded as such.  My player passed off the ball and was kicked in the 
back of the leg extremely late.  He was on the ground for about 5 
minutes.  After that, the ref decided to have a drop ball were play 
stopped.  I figured at that point that he did not have a clue.  I mean 
you could hear the contact when my player was kicked.  And the play was 
still in the same area.  Of course it was straight infront of the goal 
and about 18 yards out (scoring opportunity denied).  When he stopped 
play the ball was on the sidelines.

My team is not made up of a bunch of wimpy kids.  These are tuff guys.  
But when anyone gets taken down over and over and noone gets a warning 
or even a penalty kick (in the box) the spirit of soccer is being 
ruined for all the kids.  Our team got frustrated, the other team 
figured its OK to play hack ball and take down players instead of play 
the ball.

After the game I approached him and asked him to explain his call.  He 
mumbled something incoherently and said that he called a "dangerous 
play" and that my remarks during the game would be noted.  The other 
coach decided to hang out with us at that point.  I then stated that 
during a one on one, if the player is brought down from behind isn't 
that usually a penalty kick?  The other coach then bellowed in that it 
wasn't a one on one.  At that point the referee ordered me to leave his 
field.  I told him that because of the call and not honoring my 
peaceful intentions of understanding the situation as he saw it and 
letting the other coach come over and interfere with our discussion 
(apparently siding) after the game I would protest the game.

Let me quickly explain myself to you.  I have played soccer all my 
life.  I have been up and down several leagues.  I have coached this 
particular team for 5 years.  I am not an aggresive individual.  I have 
a medium voice and a medium build.  I don't consider myself 
intimidating.  I know and play with and around alot of refs in our 
area.  This is the first time I have been involved with a ref which 
would'nt even talk to me.  Very frustrating for me.  I like answers and 
reasons.  At the same time I know that sometimes their are no answers.  
I hate bad officiating (but it happens).  I really believe in my 
concept of "the right thing".  Now it looks as if I will be tested on it.

Some other factors are:  We were playing at their home field and the 
referee was from their club.  The final score of the game was 2-2.  I 
really don't care about that so much.  I'm more concerned with telling 
my kids that its not cool to take someone down from behind in the box 
or for that matter, at all!

Please send me your thoughts and suggestions as far as the way I acted 
etc....  I will explain more if you would like me to.

Thanx!   --Jan-Paul Koren      Microsoft Corporation

(206) 635-3220

Janko@microsoft.com

Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer