Question Number: 23864

Law 5 - The Referee 9/2/2010

RE: 7 Adult

John Gough of Sheffield, United Kingdom asks...

Is it mandatory that a referee has to give their name and FA registration number when asked for (to fill in the match card) by the team's managers playing in the game.

Or can the referee refuse to give their details?

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

John, this is a question better asked of your game assigner. I think I would not hesitate to give my name and number if asked in a civil way. But if asked in anger, I might just ignore him.
I got a traffic violation when I was still a young man (I am no longer young...) and the cop refused to give me his name. In retrospect I really can't blame him. The funny thing is his name was John Smith and I certainly would not have believed that!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
If the details are required on the match card then they should be filled in. The question is whose responsibility it is to do that and the answer may be in the competition rules set down by the competition organisers?
I don't believe there should be any issue about giving a name or number in an official capacity to a manager, club secretary etc. If they really want to get it they can by contacting the League.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

That type of question is usually more of a threat than a request, as in 'I'm going to report you and the awful game you've called!' or some such. The referee is under no obligation to answer such a request. On the other hand, if politely asked for such information which is required by the league, any reasonable referee would comply. It's not like they can't find out if they want to, after all.

Match card sounds like it is the game report, in which case the referee will be filling it out anyway.