RateTheRef

Quote from: Leggy on Tue 11 Oct 2022 17:59

Quote from: Ref Watcher on Tue 11 Oct 2022 10:56

I had a similar incident in a game earlier this season.  I was on the line and a player taking a corner next to me for a team that was comfortably ahead was taking an age.  I was aware that he was on a yellow card and was encouraging him, verbally and demonstratively, to hurry up. I pointed out that getting another yellow at that point would be incredibly stupid.  He took no notice.  The referee began running towards us, thrusting hand into pocket.  I don't whether it was the panicked look on my face or their own realisation of which player it was that caused the hand to come out of the pocket empty.  Either way, we were all much relieved afterwards.  There was no observer present either so no harm done and lesson learnt.

Based on your description the player:
~ Was "taking an age" to take a corner.
~ Was made aware he was already on a yellow card.
~ Was helpfully encouraged to hurry up.
~ Was further made aware that a receiving a second yellow card for time-wasting would be "incredibly stupid".

I understand why you might have been "relieved" afterwards, but many others (not least the opposing players, official and supporters) may have been less happy that the correct sanction was not applied. 

The delay / time-wasting has been condoned and will be repeated - players will believe they are immune from a second yellow card for "technical" offences and the game suffers as a result.

If I remember correctly the score was 5-1, there were a couple of minutes left and it was a cup game.  Absolutely no one wanted a red card.  I have no problem with the harshest sanction being applied for technical offences when it is appropriate.  A red card here would just have annoyed everyone and left the referee open to accusations of being a jobsworth.