Applying the citing methodology
The process requires you to address the various aspects of the incident in a chronological order, identifying what each participant has done, for example:
- Set the Scene;
- Describe what the alleged offending player is doing prior to and during the incident;
- Describe what was the impacted player was doing;
- Describe the physical act
- Describe the effect of the act;
- Describe what did the match officials did, if anything; and
- Describe what did the team medical staff did, if anything.
This will create your description of the incident. Once done, turn to the post-incident consideration.
- Describe your actions, calibration/correlation;
- Describe your thought processes in detail; and
- Set out what your conclusion is regarding the alleged act of foul play.
Two examples are set out below. The first one relates to a lifting (tip) tackle incident and the second one relates to charging with no use of arms.
The Action and Analysis columns are a useful step-by-step process to cover the essential aspects of a citing investigation.
Incident 1 – Lifting (Tip) Tackle - Contrary to Law 9.18
A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground.
Therefore, you must consider all the elements of the offence:
- The tackler lifted his/her opponent from the ground; and
- Drove/dropped the opposition player on the ground; and
- The opposition player’s head and/or upper body came into contact with the ground.
| Actions | Factual Analysis of the Alleged Act of Foul Play |
|---|---|
| Set the scene | At about 27.21 of running time in the first half the Green team were attacking through a series of backline movements in the opposition half. Green No 12 (Jones), received the ball in a backline movement and ran towards the opposition. |
| Describe what the alleged offending player is doing prior to and during the incident | Blue No 6 (Smith), was defending in the backline and set himself to tackle Green No 12. Blue No 6 drove into him remaining on his feet and in the process wrapped his arms around both thighs and lifted Green No 12 from the ground. |
| Describe what was the impacted player was doing | Green No 12 was then lifted and tipped through the horizontal with his head below the level of his hips. |
| Describe the physical act | Blue No 6 continued with the tackle and propelled Green No 12 into the ground head first whilst his feet were still off the ground. Green No 12 used an arm to try and break his fall without great effect. He impacted with the ground with considerable force. The initial point of contact was with his head. |
| Describe the effect of the act | Green No 12 appears to be immediately in distress and drops the ball. |
| Describe, what the Match Officials did, if anything | The matter was detected by the Referee who issued a penalty. |
| Describe what the Team medical staff did, if anything | Team Medical staff came onto the field and Green No.12 left the field for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA), which he failed, and he took no further part in the match. |
After you have done this, then summarise your key findings and combine these in to a brief factual description of what you allege happened during the incident and immediately after. Do not include any opinion on what the offending player might, or might not, have been intending to do. Let the video clips and other factual evidence speak for itself.
Factual Description of Alleged Foul Play
The alleged foul play occurred when Blue No.6 (Smith) tackled Green No.12 as he carried the ball into contact. Blue No.6 lifted Green No.12 from the ground and tipped him through the horizontal which resulted in Green No.12’s head impacting the ground first with force.
On Field Action
The Green medical team staff came onto the field and Green No.12 left the field of play for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA,) which he subsequently failed, and he therefore took no further part in the match.
The matter was detected by the Referee who issued a penalty.
Now describe your post-incident considerations and conclusions.
| Actions | Analysis of Relevant Matters |
|---|---|
| Describe your actions, collaboration / correlation | I have:Examined all the available clips; Sought statements/reports from the player and the team doctor; Considered the Laws of the Game. Conferred with my Citing colleagues |
| Describe your thought processes. | I believe that Green No.12 was lifted above the horizontal and driven to the ground. I believe that the action of lifting and driving a player into the ground head first with force poses a significant risk to the safety of the player and constitutes dangerous play. |
| Set out what your conclusions are regarding the alleged act of foul play | As a result, I consider the penalty awarded by the Referee was insufficient and that Blue No.6 should be cited for a dangerous lifting tackle, contrary to Law 9.18. |
Now write down your conclusions and set out why you take the view that the penalty awarded on-field was insufficient and why you feel, having considered all of facts and the law, that the act merited a Red Card. This will provide the cited player and the Judicial Officer/Disciplinary Panel with your rationale for the full citing.
Analysis
I believe that the actions of Blue No.6 in lifting and tipping Green No.12 through the horizontal and driving him into the ground head first with force posed a significant risk of serious injury to Green No.12 and constitutes dangerous play and a breach of Law 9.18.
Your Decision
For these reasons, I am firmly of the view that the Referee’s decision to solely award a penalty against Blue No.6 was inadequate. The offence clearly merited a Red Card in my assessment.
Video clips and a medical report are available to support the allegation of foul play and the injury sustained.
Now combine the factual description with your conclusions and this becomes the citing narrative for inclusion in the citing report form.
Incident 2 – Dangerous Charge Law - Contrary to Law 9.16
A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the ball without attempting to grasp that player.
Therefore, you must consider all the elements of the offence:
- The player charged/knocked down his/her opponent who was carrying the ball; and
- This occurred without the player trying to grasp the opposition player
| Actions | Factual Analysis of the Alleged Act of Foul Play |
|---|---|
| Set the scene | At about 52.14 of the second half of the match the Green team were attacking through a series of rucks with players carrying the ball close to each ruck. At this time the Green No 5 (Clark) received the ball close to the ruck and ran toward the opposition defenders. |
| Describe what the alleged offending player is doing prior to and during the incident | Blue No 1 (Brown) was defending close to the ruck and set himself to tackle Green No 5. |
| Describe what was the impacted player was doing | Green No 5 ran at the defensive line in an upright position carrying the ball in his right arm high on his chest. |
| Describe the physical act | Blue No.1 went to tackle Green No.5 and ‘tucked’ his arm into his chest and drives upwards with the point of his right shoulder, initially making no attempt to grasp his taller opponent. Blue No.1’s right shoulder impacted on the arm that was carrying the ball at shoulder height and rode up contacting Green No.5’s head with force. After the impact Blue No.1 managed to grasp the Green No.5 as he fell to the ground. |
| Describe the effect of the act | Green No. 5 was knocked off his feet and a ruck formed over him. After the ruck broke up he remained on the ground. |
| Describe, what the Match Officials did, if anything | The matter was not detected by the Match Officials. |
| Describe what the Team medical staff did, if anything | The Green team medical staff came onto the field and Green No.5 left the field for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) but passed the assessment and returned and completed the match. |
After you have done this, then summarise your key findings and combine these in to a brief factual description of what you allege happened during the incident and immediately after. Again, do not include any opinion on what the offending player might, or might not, have been intending to do. Let the video clips and other factual evidence speak for itself.
Factual Description of Alleged Foul Play
The alleged foul play occurred when Blue No.1 (Brown) tackled Green No.5 driving upwards with his right shoulder contacting the head of Green No.5 with force and Green No.5 fell to the ground.
On Field Action
He required medical attention and left the field for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA), which he passed, and was able to return to the field of play and complete the match.
The alleged foul play was not detected by the Match Officials.
Now describe your post-incident considerations and conclusions.
| Action | Analysis of Relevant Matters |
|---|---|
| Describe your actions, collaboration / correlation | I have:Examined all the available clips; Sought statements/reports from the player and the team doctor;Considered the Laws of the Game.Conferred with my Citing colleagues |
| Describe your thought processes | On first viewing the incident during the match, I initially believed that the point of contact was directly to Green’s head and was done without the use of arms. As a result, I was considering whether this was potentially a Red Card/full citing offence. However, having now been able to view all the available angles I have determined that the impact with the head was as a result of the shoulder riding up from the initial point of contact on the ball-carrying arm of Green No.5. Driving upwards towards the chest/shoulder region with the shoulder is risky and places the tackled player at risk of serious injury and is dangerous if it goes wrong, as happened in this case. There is clearly a risk of an outcome such as this if a tackling player enters into contact in this way. |
| Set out what your conclusions are regarding the alleged act of foul play | I find that the action of Blue No.1, whilst dangerous play, was close to, but not quite at, the Red Card threshold as contact was initially at chest height with the impact causing the shoulder to ride up towards the victim player’s head. There was also an attempt to grasp the tackled player as he went to ground. As a result of my analysis I believe that a Citing Commissioner Warning is appropriate and should be issued to Blue No.1. |
Now write down your conclusions and set out why you feel, having considered all of facts and the law, that the act merited a Citing Commissioner Warning. This will provide the cited player and his/her club with your rationale for the action taken.
Analysis
I initially considered that the point of contact was directly to Green No.5’s head and that this was done without the use of arms and without trying to grasp that player. As a result, I considered that this may warrant a Red Card/full citing.
However, on review of all additional camera angles, I find that the impact with the head was as a result of the shoulder riding up from the initial point of contact. I also note that Blue No. 1 made a late attempt to use this left arm to grasp Green No.5 as he went to ground. Taking these factors in to account, I find that the actions were dangerous but not quite at the Red Card threshold. Video clips are available to support the allegation of foul play.
Your Decision
As a result, I issue a Citing Commissioner Warning to Blue No.1 for a dangerous charge at a player carrying the ball contrary to Law 9.16
Now combine the factual description with your conclusions and this becomes the citing narrative for inclusion in the citing report form.
