Hostility exhibited by players can be dealt with at various levels according to the severity of the offence. If a player simply mentions in passing, and in a tone of voice that could only be heard by the player and referee, that he/she did not agree with your decision you might decide to very briefly explain your decision, or simply ignore the remark. If the player uses a louder voice that can be heard by a number of players, a warning is clearly called for, and the referee might decide that this is dissent and that a caution (and yellow card is appropriate). How this behaviour is dealt with in a specific game is entirely up to the Referee in that game. However this behaviour must not be ignored. Doing so will surely create a serious game management situation later. Abusive and insulting language or gestures is much more serious and must be penalized with a send-off and red card to the offending player. Threatening comments by a player must be considered abusive.

When a player is ejected please ensure that the player has completely left the field of play before you restart the game. For such serious offences it is vital that you report to the proper authorities. Directions in doing so can be found on the Soccer Nova Scotia dismissal report form. It is important that the report be filed within 48 hours and it would be helpful to send a copy to the President of the HalifaxDartmouth Soccer Referees' Association so that the HDSRA could provide any required support.

Hostile coaches must also be dealt with if and when their behaviour impacts the Referee's ability to control the match or if the Referee is being threatened or subjected to abusive and persistent comments. Coaches can be dealt with directly or, if you prefer, through the teams' captains.
If a coach shows dissent by word or action, heard or seen by surrounding players/spectators/officials, wait until play stops (or stop the play, if in your opinion, the situation should be dealt with immediately), approach the coach but keep an eye on the players while doing so. It is best to speak to the coach out of hearing of players/ spectators so that he/she does not feel it necessary to "defend his/her territory". Tell the coach politely but firmly that his/her behaviour is not acceptable and any further demonstration of dissent will result in ejection from the game. Your comments here should be polite and courteous but you must keep in mind that this is not a discussion, or even an explantion of the decision in question. You are explaining that the coach’s behaviour is unacceptable and explaining the consequences if the coach persists.

Having explained these consequences, you must carry through with your promise if further dissent or hostile behaviour occurs. If it does, immediately stop play, firmly tell the coach to leave the vicinity of the field (do not allow the coach to stay within speaking distance of his/her players).

If the coach refuses to leave simply explain that you will abandon the game if he does not. In such cases wait no more than 5 minutes for the coach to leave.

Do not show a card but do report the incident on the game sheet and do complete a dismissal report and send it to the proper authorities within 48 hours.

If you prefer the option of speaking to the coach through the team captain, stop the play, or wait until a stoppages occurs, call the captain to you but out of hearing of the other players. Explain to the captain that the coach's behaviour is not acceptable and you will give the captain 1 minute to forward your message to the coach. Restart play. If the coach's behaviour continues, he/she must be ejected in the manner described above, or, you could again deliver the message through the captain giving the coach 5 minutes to leave the vicinity of the field. At a tournament the Field Marshal should be able to assist in making sure that your requests are met.

Inappropriate behaviour on the part of spectators should be dealt with through the coach(es), or, if you prefer, the team captain(s). It is the home team's responsibility to control spectators. If one or more spectators are, in your opinion, behaving in a hostile manner towards you or your assistants, stop the game, or wait until there is a stoppage in play, and ask the home team coach or captain to correct the situation immediately. If the spectators stop misbehaving, restart the game. If the spectators refuse to stop, or resume similar behaviour later in the game, ask the coach, or captain to ensure that the spectators are removed from the vicinity of the field. At this point it would be appropriate to inform the Field Marshal of your request and enlist his/her assistance in carrying it out. Finally if the spectator(s) refuse to leave, or return to the field, you must abandon the game. If your safety is not in danger, complete the game sheet, including a brief description of the incident(s) and leave the field. Complete a detailed dismissal report within 48 hours and forward it to the proper authorities.

If you feel that you are in any danger request the assistance of the Field Marshal in escorting you from the field, or in an extreme situation, you may feel it necessary to call for police assistance. You should make every effort not to engage in any physical activity with players, coaches, or spectators.

In all cases your dismissal reports must be complete and accurate. They should contain the following information (there are places on the form for this information, so it is important that you make note of it so you will have it when you need to file your report).