Supplemental Report Writing Tips

  • Use terminology/language from IFAB LOTG and FIFA considerations.

  • Write the report in 3rd person

  • Only include facts

  • State only the facts of what happened. 

  • Use names and numbers or position on the referee crew and NOT pronouns (he, she, they, them, etc.) to avoid any confusion.  

  • Leave out feelings – words such as “I felt” or “I Thought”

  • Finish the report with either

    • the player left the field in a timely manner without causing further incidents

    • Or The player did not leave the field in a timely manner and cause X additional incident before leaving.

In order for Disciplinary Committees to evaluate serious misconduct, match reports must include: 

  • The name of (and additional identifying information for) the player who was sent off 

  • The time of the send off 

  • The specific reason in the IFAB Laws of the Game for the send off (Law 12)