During the match for 11th place in the 5th Men’s U19 World Floorball Championships in Turku/Raisio, Finland on the 10th of May, 2009 between Germany and Hungary, the Hungarian player Philip Kapetz received an MP3 in the end of the match, for unsportsmanlike behaviour when pushing the referee, during a brawl between the two teams after an incident between one German and one Hungarian player.

Due to the fact that this was the last match of the Hungarian team, Mr. Kapetz has not served the automatic suspension following a MP3 for the next match.

Decision and applicable provisions:

In accordance with the regulations namely Section 6, article 17 and Section 5, article 16 of the juridical regulations the IFF disciplinary committee imposes the suspension of the player Philip Kapetz for the period of the 1st of July to the 31th of October 2009. The suspension shall be imposed at every level of competition (local, national and international).

Reasons:  The IFF DC finds based on the analysis of the available materials that the player Philip Kapetz, who was not taking part in the incident leading to the situation in question, entered the situation just in order to take part in the Hungarian protests against the referees. In this specific case there are however not any indications that there was any deliberate aim to physically harm the referee by Mr. Kapetz. It seems that he just reacted in the heat of the moment. The act is however aimed towards a referee, which makes it much more serious, regardless any possible frustration or disappointment of the team or the player.

Based on the material analysed by the IFF DC, it is not likely that the player Philip Kapetz, would not have known that the person he pushed was not a referee, since he came with eye-contact directly in to the situation. Therefore the argument used by the Hungarians, concerning the fact that Mr. Kapetz would not have noticed the referee can’t effect the decision.

The referees are untouchable on the field of play and the players need to respect this.

Basis for decision: Referee report, Hungarian team statement and Jury report
Essential provisions: Rules of the Game (edition 2006) and IFF Juridical Regulations
Decision procedure: The decision was made unanimously.
Appeal procedure: The directions for an appeal according to the IFF Juridical Regulation Article 48.