What happens if a football player disrespects the owners, coach, or referee?

2017-09-24T22:53:40-04:00

I just wonder is it only OK to disrespect the flag, but not their boss or referees? Does anyone have any history on these types of disrespect? I do not watch or follow the millionaire players since I have to earn a living to eat.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Sep 24 at 2017 11:26 PM

2017-09-24T23:26:04-04:00

I am a soccer referee (youth, high school, adult). Our Florida high school policy dealing with the current fad of kneeling for whatever beef is that our authority, in this instance, begins when the whistle is blown. Kneeling during the National Anthem is an issue for the school's representative, on game day, to deal with. In Florida, any serious dissent, taunting, or abusive language aimed at the referee is dealt with a disqualification. A straight red card has various monetary fines and suspension periods depending on the severity. In these cases, the referee's authority begins when they enter the sports complex and ends when they leave. The rules of the games are enforced during this time. Unfortunately, kneeling or other controversial actions are not part of the game.

If individual actions occur the game negatively affects the game, then the referee must deal with the conflict. If a player puts on a MAGA or AntiFa armband during the game, that player is dealt with for wearing improper uniform items. If a player runs off the field during the game and grabs any flag, even the US Flag, and waves it to bring attention to themselves, it will result in a disqualification. Same punishment if a player lifts their jersey showing an T-shirt with a design on it. There is some discretion on corrective action based on how long this behavior goes on.

The National Anthem is normally not played during youth games.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 12:04 AM

2017-09-25T00:04:36-04:00

I am more inclined as to the Why? Why is the Left so set on this current path? These are the 1% and they are somehow ashamed of a system that has allowed them to prosper. Have they stopped playing the game in protest? Have they declined their paycheck from a system that was set up to exclude them? Have they returned their endorsement money? This is the easy play from the cult of identity politics and it is very easy to detect. It is the same as the faux Native Indian Senator living in her multi million dollar mansion extolling and vilifying the horrible state of affairs under a Trump regime while pulling in 300K for a singular college course. We are in the faux outrage period. If anyone should riot or disrespect others it should be the People living government hand to mouth in Chicago with 3 KIA, 30 WIAs this week, or Baltimore, or East St. Louis which is more dangerous than Honduras. SO, the Left is using the NFL as a distraction as their Utopian Blue Cities fail their People.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Sep 25 at 2017 10:44 AM

2017-09-25T10:44:40-04:00

SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint It is really a catch 22. On the one hand they cannot tolerate disrespect of the officials, owners, or coaching staff if the team wants to succeed. ON the other hand if they don't have their million dollar whiners, the team cannot succeed. I don't feel any sympathy for the owners or the players. The owners brought it on themselves when they decided that paying millions of dollars to a player for playing a kids game seemed reasonable. As for the players. You are making millions of dollars for playing a game. I don't really care what your opinions are. Shut the hole under your nose, play the game, and leave the politics to the idiots in DC. If you need to make a statement do it on your own time. Shut up, make the plays, and dance for us.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2017 4:55 AM

2017-09-26T04:55:13-04:00

This is something that has really ticked me off. I'm not thin skinned or easily offended but every time I see one of these spoiled kids taking a knee and talking about 'white privilege' and how they are being persecuted for their race while they live in mansions and drive Ferraris, I feel like they are giving me and every other veteran the finger. They stand on the flag and want to talk about how awful the US is while most of them have never even been out of the country except maybe to the Bahamas or Cancun. I think of all of the holidays, birthdays, graduations, and special events I've missed over the past 3 decades because I was busy trying to defend the country they've made so much money off of yet have come to despise. I've been called 'baby killer,' had things thrown at me, and had civilians attempt to run me off the road solely because I'm an 'Army POS' (always from a vehicle, none would ever confront me personally) while these kids grew up clean, fed, healthy, and thrust into fame and fortune by a system that is 'unfair' to them. I've busted my ass to get where I am like every other American has to, regardless of race. I've been homeless 3 times but never stood on a corner begging. I've worked it out every time. My DNA results say that I carry virtually every race within my bloodstream but I'm automatically labeled a racist because I appear to be predominantly Caucasian. For this same reason I've been denied jobs, promotions, and access to education programs throughout my adult life but this system is 'unfair' to football players with 7 and 8 figure bank accounts who hate their country, disrespect our flag, our anthem, our war dead, and all who serve while playing a game in front of millions of cheering fans. Sure, I know it's their Constitutional 'right,' but how many of them have ever even read the Constitution, much less defended it? How many of them know what their rights really are? The massive public support of these protests based primarily on false media narratives solidifies my belief that we veterans are truly on our own and can count on no one but each other. Our nation hates us and finds us 'offensive.' I'm beginning to understand the rejection that our Vietnam veterans experienced though I'm not sure it's that bad... yet.