Wee scenario for everyone...

Ball on the ground and 2 opposition players contesting for it, player from yellow team falls to the ground and, thinking he's automatically going to get a foul, grabs the ball with both hands, stopping the player from green team getting the ball. Ref awards a foul to green team.

Player from yellow team gets up, still holding the ball, and gives ref verbals before gesturing like he was going to throw the ball off the ref's face with both hands. You know the one I mean, where the player looks like he's going to do a basketball/netball type pass but holds onto the ball instead of throwing it.

This video shows what I mean. http://youtu.be/4JXVO_4iUzU

Anyway, ref takes the guys name and issues a yellow card.

Question is, was what the player done worthy of a red card or was a yellow sufficient?

At a guess I would say it could easily been red, possibly an initial yellow for purposely handling the ball, followed by a further yellow then red, for verbal abuse and threatening behaviour both of which could be bookings in there own right, either way I'd expect player to walk.

The only ordering off sanction that the ref could you have used is violent conduct.
So to give a DEFINITIVE answer is difficult as I would have to have been there.

Your answer here Windlaw is simply was the player's actions violent in nature?
If you feel he was then IN YOUR OPINION he should have seen red - if not, then yellow.

In this situation, i'd imagine the ball would actually have to be thrown, with excessive force to constitute violent conduct. You can't say it's any different from doing the same to an opposition player. Violent conduct can be commited against any person on or off the field of play. If the action was similar to the video, then the right decision would have been a caution for unsporting behaviour. So regardless if it's the referee, a spectator or anyone, it's treated the same. You could also make a case to caution him for deliberate handball or dissent, but it would be harsh to send him off for 2 cautionable offences here (well depending on the level of dissent!). Depending on the atmosphere of the game, I always try and keep my red card in my pocket if I can. I think in this instance, I would have cautioned him for unsporting behaviour explaining it was for the throwing feint and then warned him that he was on his final warning. As much as a peep for the rest of the game and he'll recieve his second caution.

fair question, though all decisions can be over analysed in a defeat, i am sure you will bounce back

Hopefully we will. It's not intended as sour grapes, it was a good, hard game and the best team on the day won. Already looking forward to the return match at our place.

I was just curious as to how other refs would have handled the situation. I posted it on here to get away from our own forum after the recent mess the last thread about refs ended in. Didn't want a slagging match or abuse thrown about, just an opinion

If one of my players done it, I'd expect him to be sent off and I'd be fining him for his utter stupidity and banning him myself.