06 Jan 2018 12:08:24
Eds what are the options open to a ref if he hears racist abuse? Can he reprimand a player immediately ie with a red card or does any action have to be taken retrospectively?

If - as is being reported today - Firmino racially abused Holgate then the ref must have heard it given where he was stood at the time. He should have been able to send Firmino off for me if it's true - if the ref can't do that then there needs to be a rule change if the FA are serious about stamping it out.

Having seen it on the tellybox I can definitely see the word 'Puta' which isn't necessarily racist but I don' know if anything happened off camera.

{Ed001's Note - he can show a red and he would include it in his report, which would mean further action could be taken by the FA. The fact he has taken no action against Firmino, even after consultation with the 4th official and hearing from Holgate, suggests he has heard nothing of that kind. Everton could still file a complaint against Firmino if they choose to, even if the ref does not act, as no cards were shown.}

1.) 06 Jan 2018
06 Jan 2018 14:28:36
Presumably it was caught on the ref’s head mic? And presumably a recording of this is kept for investigations of this kind. So should be very easy to assess.

2.) 06 Jan 2018
06 Jan 2018 15:09:11
Ed01, I agree with your assessment. Everton can file a complaint as that is their right. However, the ref was on top of the situation nd was the first to stop Firmino from knocking the block out of Colgate and since Firmino swore at Colgate one foot from the ref, he was in good position to hear the whole thing. Now, I don't know if something else was said after the fact BUT we shall see. IMO, the ref heard nothing and did not send Bobbie off, this will be a "he said-he said" and nothing more.

{Ed001's Note - he was almost leaning over the ref as he shouted so I don't understand how anyone can think the ref would not have heard anything untoward.}

3.) 06 Jan 2018
06 Jan 2018 15:53:49
Can Holgate be retrospectively punished for the shove? Or because the red saw it and chose not to card him, is this out of the FAs hands?