Disciplinary action taken

This disciplinary ruling was sent around to captains.  Occassionally, I post them. While it is never my intention to embarrass other players, the league generally asks that we make this information available to players.  Sometimes, as in this case, I even redact names.

January 20, 2011

Re: Notice of Disciplinary Suspension –  – Red Card

*:

            The CCSL Disciplinary Committee (DC) has reviewed the events that took place during a November 14, 2010 match between Backdraft and Painkillers.  This review was specific to the actions of *** (Backdraft).  During the review, the DC solicited input in the form of written statements from the officiating crew and both of the involved teams.  No deadline was established for the submission of testimony, however, adequate time and notification was provided to allow all parties to provide their recollections of the events.

            The DC has accepted as truth, the facts listed in the reports provided by the Center Official.  According to those reports, the following occurred:

Center Official In the 88', ***, Backdraft, was sent off for violent conduct, for shoving/pushing **, Painkillers. ***was injured at this time, but his injury was not related to **'s ejection, and the collision that resulted in **'s injury was not **'s fault. In the 88', ** was chasing the ball towards the Backdraft keeper, and ****, the sweeper for Backdraft, was also chasing the ball. The Backdraft keeper came into the play hard, but legally, and knocked the ball away. While clearing the ball, the keeper collided with **and **, and the three men collapsed in a heap. It was a hard collision, but it was a 50/50 ball, and the collision was either no one's fault, or everyone's, because they all equally raced to the spot of the collision. In the collision, **and **fell to the ground and **hit his head on the ground. **got up immediately, and was yelling loudly about the play. Apparently, **believed that **had hit **i from behind. But, **'s contact with **was caused when the Backdraft keeper came from in-front-of **and **, and took out both ***an*** . The Backdraft keeper got up and remained calm, and Rosenberg rolled onto his side/knees to try to get up. ***, though, was very angry, and when he got up, he shoved **on the back/shoulders, and **continued to yell, loudly, about the collision. I was right at the spot, and I had **move away from the area, and he was still yelling irately and loudly. I then pulled out the red card, and told **that he was being ejected for shoving the Painkillers player (**). ***charged at me, enraged, but did not touch me. He continued to yell loudly. No one from Backdraft came over the restrain him. I asked his teammates to escort **from the field, but no one helped. Eventually, **started to walk away, but he continued to yell loudly and berate me. I then went back to tend to*** , who was still on the ground with a head injury that I believe was unrelated to **shoving **. I believe the head injury came from the initial collision with the goalkeeper. Six minutes passed before **was able to leave the field. **had still not left the playing area, and was on the sidelines taking off his tape and equipment. Before resuming play, the Painkillers players properly asked that **leave the area. I went to the sidelines and told him that he had to leave the area. He did not make any effort to leave, and continued taking off his equipment. ***, Backdraft, was on the sidelines with **(as was a third Backdraft player) and said that **was taking off his stuff and would leave. I explained that he did not have the right to do so, that he had to immediately leave the area, and that he had taken over 6 minutes to leave already, while I had tended to **. I informed the Backdraft players that **had 30 seconds to leave, or I would suspend the match, and Backdraft would forfeit. I walked away a few yards and waited. **quickly gathered his things and left. After the game, **came back into the area, and was standing on the track, staring at me while I finished talking to other players and the referee crew. **approached ***, the linesman for the game, and said he wanted to talk to me. **told **that he was not allowed to talk to me, and he asked **to leave. **firmly said, "I am going to talk to him." He then walked over to me. I started to walk away, and he said, "I want to talk to you!" He kept saying that he wanted to talk to me, so I turned around to face him. I said that he could not talk to me, that he had to leave the area, and I told him to talk to the league and the proper authorities if he had anything to add. He asked me my name, and I gave it to him. He eventually walked away. I believe that even if he was upset about the play, and upset about my call, he should not have been yelling as loudly and as long as he did, that he should have left the field promptly -- as required by the laws of the game and the league -- and that he should not have approached me after the game..

           

            The DC has also solicited, accepted, reviewed and taken into consideration all other testimony that was provided as part of the disciplinary review process.  The review process has involved multiple members of the DC, all of whom have had full access to referee reports and testimony.

The DC has found that there is sufficient evidence that *** displayed violent conduct towards an opponent, showed disregard for the welfare of an opponent, disregarded instructions from an official during the course of a game. Accordingly, the DC recommends that **** be suspended for two (2) games, in addition to any disciplinary suspension already served.  This suspension is to be served during **’s next two scheduled games, including games that are played subsequent to the Fall 2010 CCSL season.

            The Capital Coed Soccer league is a recreational soccer league that prides itself on bringing people together to enjoy the benefits that competitive, adult soccer has to offer.  The CCSL in no way condones abusive behavior such as that which was displayed during the above-referenced match. 

            Should **decide to appeal the decision of the CCSL, he has the right to do so in accordance with the appeal process documented in the Constitution of the Capital Coed Soccer League.

            The CCSL DC hereby submits this to the President of the CCSL as their official recommendation for disciplinary action.