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Dog Fouling a pitch.

Um cachorro "suja" o campo

Um cachorro "suja" o campo

It’s a televised FA Cup fourth-round tie: a top-four club playing away at a non-league minnow. Before kick-off the away side’s captain comes to you and says his team are refusing to play because they've seen dog muck on the pitch. They say it’s unhygienic, even if the bulk of it is cleared. He wants the game called off.
What do you do?

 

You are the ref

Read the statements below and decide which is best. In this case, should you stop the match?
Call off the match.

Sorry. This is not the correct answer.

Make a representative from the home club remove the muck, and make the pitch, in your opinion, fit for play.

Keith Hackett: You do have to consider any danger or risk to players, which includes issues around hygiene, but really, this is an over-reaction from the top-flight players. In my career I’ve had to have all sorts removed from pitches before games: and I remember vividly having to get a shovel out myself to move cow pats before one Sunday match...

Let the match continue.

Well done. This is the correct answer.

Make a representative from the home club remove the muck, and make the pitch, in your opinion, fit for play.

Keith Hackett: You do have to consider any danger or risk to players, which includes issues around hygiene, but really, this is an over-reaction from the top-flight players. In my career I’ve had to have all sorts removed from pitches before games: and I remember vividly having to get a shovel out myself to move cow pats before one Sunday match...

 

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Comentários

AndrewJfk's picture
AndrewJfk
25/01/2024
ES
66
points

I don't understand why in the pitch there is a muck of the dog, what is the safety in the stadium?

First of all, the fiel must be free of any kind of garbage, this is very important to avoid accidents during the match, players could fall on the dirty, this isn't hygiene.

Secondly, the playing field has to be throughly checked to make sure it is suitable for the game.

The match must continue.


AndrewJfk's picture
AndrewJfk
25/01/2024 11:54
Spain
Chelsea
66

I don't understand why in the pitch there is a muck of the dog, what is the safety in the stadium?

First of all, the fiel must be free of any kind of garbage, this is very important to avoid accidents during the match, players could fall on the dirty, this isn't hygiene.

Secondly, the playing field has to be throughly checked to make sure it is suitable for the game.

The match must continue.

GARGER
10/10/2023
CC
94
points

I think the match sold carry on. The players have to play but y allso consider that the players can't take risks to injure or fall sick so the muck has to be removed.


GARGER
10/10/2023 14:58
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Luton Town
94

I think the match sold carry on. The players have to play but y allso consider that the players can't take risks to injure or fall sick so the muck has to be removed.

Rath6180's picture
Rath6180
06/02/2023
GB
759
points

I don't think I would want to land in a dog muck in the middle of a game.


Rath6180's picture
Rath6180
06/02/2023 10:07
United Kingdom
Liverpool
759

I don't think I would want to land in a dog muck in the middle of a game.

hsn's picture
hsn
01/05/2022
TR
5557
points

In my opinion if there is no another pitch facility the game should be called off.
All the rubbish must be cleared before the match. The ball could touch them then touch the head or face of the players.Hygiene is very important.


hsn's picture
hsn
01/05/2022 13:45
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5557

In my opinion if there is no another pitch facility the game should be called off.
All the rubbish must be cleared before the match. The ball could touch them then touch the head or face of the players.Hygiene is very important.

Michaelsun
27/03/2022
CN
738
points

It should play on because it’s easy to resolve the problem. Just make somebody remove the dog muck on the pitch.


Michaelsun
27/03/2022 11:28
China
Manchester United
738

It should play on because it’s easy to resolve the problem. Just make somebody remove the dog muck on the pitch.

Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
05/04/2021
BR
1512
points

It could be a problem if the ref arbitrarily decides do keep the match on but refuses to clean the pitch. I think the match should not be canceled, but a member from the host must clean the pitch, so the ref can evaluate if it's safe to start the game. After the match, the ref must report this at the docket.


Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
05/04/2021 17:44
Brazil
Arsenal
1512

It could be a problem if the ref arbitrarily decides do keep the match on but refuses to clean the pitch. I think the match should not be canceled, but a member from the host must clean the pitch, so the ref can evaluate if it's safe to start the game. After the match, the ref must report this at the docket.

future123
25/02/2021
VN
55
points

Remove the poop and play the beautiful game!


future123
25/02/2021 09:25
Vietnam
Liverpool
55

Remove the poop and play the beautiful game!

DUDMAN1738
25/04/2020
US
1
points

Remove the poop and play the beautiful game!


DUDMAN1738
25/04/2020 05:22
United States
Manchester United
1

Remove the poop and play the beautiful game!

jjosebadillo's picture
jjosebadillo
23/11/2019
MX
435
points

I don't see a problem, you just have to lift the dog's dung


jjosebadillo's picture
jjosebadillo
23/11/2019 20:16
Mexico
Wolverhampton Wanderers
435

I don't see a problem, you just have to lift the dog's dung

josegsalass's picture
josegsalass
13/11/2019
VE
581
points

If the dog were inside the pitch, it must be taken out, In the case of the dog muck, it just needs to be removed and keep the grass clean from it so players do not get in contact with it. There's no risk with it.


josegsalass's picture
josegsalass
13/11/2019 00:19
Venezuela
Liverpool
581

If the dog were inside the pitch, it must be taken out, In the case of the dog muck, it just needs to be removed and keep the grass clean from it so players do not get in contact with it. There's no risk with it.

GatoConBotas22's picture
GatoConBotas22
01/10/2019
PE
1
points

The dog could be a danger for players because it can bite them. And the Referee have to call off the match.
Are you crazy?
The correct option is stop.


GatoConBotas22's picture
GatoConBotas22
01/10/2019 17:14
Peru
Chelsea
1

The dog could be a danger for players because it can bite them. And the Referee have to call off the match.
Are you crazy?
The correct option is stop.

ldzingirai's picture
ldzingirai
07/04/2019
ZW
1749
points

A match may be abandoned due to extreme weather such as heavy rains and strong winds, terrorism, waterlogged picth, and et al. Cases that doesn't post much danger to players,fans and other stateholders can be fixed and the will continue.


ldzingirai's picture
ldzingirai
07/04/2019 10:16
Zimbabwe
Chelsea
1749

A match may be abandoned due to extreme weather such as heavy rains and strong winds, terrorism, waterlogged picth, and et al. Cases that doesn't post much danger to players,fans and other stateholders can be fixed and the will continue.

vanmanh's picture
vanmanh
30/03/2019
VN
123
points

as for me, I will request with the referee stop the match and take the muck out the pitch. Then, the match will continue .


vanmanh's picture
vanmanh
30/03/2019 14:40
Vietnam
Liverpool
123

as for me, I will request with the referee stop the match and take the muck out the pitch. Then, the match will continue .

I am from Russia's picture
I am from Russia
25/02/2018
RU
388
points

Hmm..


I am from Russia's picture
I am from Russia
25/02/2018 20:43
Russia
Liverpool
388

Hmm..

yusepriyadi's picture
yusepriyadi
17/02/2018
ID
8
points

It's just a dog, the match must go on


yusepriyadi's picture
yusepriyadi
17/02/2018 19:00
Indonesia
Chelsea
8

It's just a dog, the match must go on

mgsein
10/12/2017
MM
41
points

Play on whatever happen.


mgsein
10/12/2017 13:20
Myanmar
Manchester United
41

Play on whatever happen.

CaroleAnnMarie1's picture
CaroleAnnMarie1
01/02/2017
IT
317
points

hahahahahahahaha funny !!! I laughed so hard...


CaroleAnnMarie1's picture
CaroleAnnMarie1
01/02/2017 18:11
Italy
Everton
317

hahahahahahahaha funny !!! I laughed so hard...

mundial's picture
mundial
24/01/2017
GE
32
points

nice


mundial's picture
mundial
24/01/2017 18:59
Georgia
Manchester United
32

nice

baki333
02/01/2017
BA
310
points

They can remove it...


baki333
02/01/2017 13:01
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Chelsea
310

They can remove it...

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
28/05/2016
GH
4779
points

The match has to be stopped for the match to be postponed because even after its cleared if someone should be fouled and he falls to the exact spot the effects could be dangerous for the person's health


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
28/05/2016 08:39
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

The match has to be stopped for the match to be postponed because even after its cleared if someone should be fouled and he falls to the exact spot the effects could be dangerous for the person's health

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
26/03/2016
PS
3705
points

The ref must not cancel the match and if the team refuses he must make it a win for the other team.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
26/03/2016 15:53
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

The ref must not cancel the match and if the team refuses he must make it a win for the other team.

HakanUslu1881's picture
HakanUslu1881
12/02/2016
TR
1761
points

It's not a big deal,so the match should be continued.


HakanUslu1881's picture
HakanUslu1881
12/02/2016 15:38
Turkey
Leicester City
1761

It's not a big deal,so the match should be continued.

footballlearner's picture
footballlearner
07/02/2016
ES
130
points

My first try as a referee, I was reasonable and I got it right. Great!


footballlearner's picture
footballlearner
07/02/2016 23:13
Spain
Aston Villa
130

My first try as a referee, I was reasonable and I got it right. Great!

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
12/12/2015
ME
3557
points

If the players don't complain to the referee, then the game can be continued untill the halftime and on the pause it can be cleaned.


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
12/12/2015 18:04
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

If the players don't complain to the referee, then the game can be continued untill the halftime and on the pause it can be cleaned.

nikosonris
16/11/2015
UA
2453
points

Play on even if it happens during the game.


nikosonris
16/11/2015 13:52
Ukraine
Arsenal
2453

Play on even if it happens during the game.

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
26/10/2015
ME
3557
points

It's not a big deal. Match should be continued as soon as the muck is removed from the pitch.


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
26/10/2015 23:37
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

It's not a big deal. Match should be continued as soon as the muck is removed from the pitch.

Abdallah
08/08/2014
KW
1814
points

maybe it can not be removed , maybe the dog muck is everywhere in the pitch which cant be removed


Abdallah
08/08/2014 21:53
Kuwait
Chelsea
1814

maybe it can not be removed , maybe the dog muck is everywhere in the pitch which cant be removed

Rodes
02/10/2015
TN
1138
points

hhhh are you crazy man , how the dog can muck in evrywhere in the pitch ..it is a dog not a dinosaur


Rodes
02/10/2015 02:21
Tunisia
Manchester United
1138

hhhh are you crazy man , how the dog can muck in evrywhere in the pitch ..it is a dog not a dinosaur

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6573
2mobeckham6536
3hsn5557
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia74670
2Ukraine33836
3Spain29414
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23401
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20437
8Turkey20095
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United146586
2Liverpool111204
3Chelsea90125
4Arsenal86324
5Manchester City58726
6Tottenham Hotspur19418
7Newcastle United10560
8West Ham United7667
9AFC Bournemouth4915
10Everton4533

Level

4
Average: 4 (1 vote)

Goals

Learn about the difficult decisions a referee has to make.

Glossary

minnow - a small fish (used figuratively to compare a small team with a big team)

dog muck -  what a dog produces when it goes to the toilet (not a nice way to say this!)

unhygienic - dirty in a way that could make you sick

the bulk - the majority (most of...)

to call off - to cancel

Extension

By Keith Hackett and Paul Trevillion Copyright Guardian News and Media Ltd. 2010