June, 2006 - Commissioner's Casebook
(O.C. Art I, Sec 3, 3.1.7)
At a preseason soccer tournament, evidence suggested the head coach and the manager of the hosting college attempted to influence the game officials to be lenient in handing out yellow and red cards after the conclusion of the first match. Other coaches at the tournament were advised of this “agreement” and the officials thought that the onus for discipline would be assumed to a greater degree by the coaches. The principle reason for practicing leniency was to avoid the consequences of Operating Code Section 9.1.10 (previous version), which describes the length of suspensions which would result from an accumulation of red/yellow cards. The authorities at the college athletic department were unaware of any attempts to influence to officials to be lenient. The officials were not assigned by the provincial governing body but were “arranged” by the host team.
RULING:
Operating Code Section 2.1 (previous version) does not apply to exhibition games therefore, there was no requirement to use referees assigned by the ASA. However, the offending coach and manager were suspended for 2 league matches for attempting to influence game officials. All cards issued during the tournament’s first game before the “agreement” was confirmed, stood.
NOTE:
The current O.C. Section 14 Specific Rules by Sport- Soccer 2.1 and 9.1 should be referred to for this case.
(1994-95, Meadus) |