Quote:

Lots of cards in the Pinewood-Hammond game. Pinewood #9 got a straight red for asking the ref if he was going to give him a f###ing card.



Not exactly. He did get a straight red for an expletive, but the referee was already pulling out his red card as he turned around to see No. 9 on the ground - the same position he was in when he let loose with the expletive.

The referee was out of position and sucking wind much of the night. He stopped play a couple of times for no apparent reason other than to catch his breath. On this play, he managed to completely miss clearly dangerous play that frankly could have been called either way. Up until that point, it was a rather uneventul (as far as Pinewood-Hammond goes) match with Pinewood holding a 2-0 midway through the second. When the referee heard the expletive with his back to No. 9, he simply lost it. One of the linesmen, who apparently did see the play from forty yards away, tried to intervene but to no avail. At most, No. 9 deserved a yellow, but given that the referee was completely lost as to what had just transpired a few feet away, a no-call may have been the most appropriate course. In any event, to give a straight red for an expletive in a high school semi-final is a clear indication that the referee - in addition to being out of shape - has a very fragile ego. In a situation like that, any well-adjusted person would know to exercise some discretion and restraint.

I understand there are efforts to have SCISA reinstate No. 9 for the championship Saturday. If it had been a player for practically any of other SCISA school, this would be a done deal. Given SCISA's recent witch hunt against Jason Birchwood, I am not holding my breath.