Bob Jewett said:
I think that both players are supposed to do their best to make sure that all the rules are followed. That includes calling fouls on yourself when there is no referee. I realize that in many league and match situations the attitude is "screw him before he screws me" but I don't think that's the way the game should be played.
If I'm the TD, the guy who remained silent when he knew he had lost would sit out for the rest of the night.
What rule would you rely on to justify that disqualification? If "unsportsmanlike conduct" is implicated, that is a very slippery slope.
Is it "unsportsmanlike" for a player not to warn an oppenent that he is about to shoot a ball out of sequence or of the wrong variety (in 8 Ball)?
Those with the highest moral standards might say that such a warning should be given. Would you disqualify a player who failed to issue such a warning?
IMHO, the rules are the rules and if no rule exists to cover a given situation then arguments about "morality" should not be invoked.
I know of no rule obligating a player to warn another player of a rule violation.
In fact, the rules SPECIFICALLY provide that if a shot takes place after a foul has been commited, that foul is extinguished...period. That rule CLEARLY contemplates that fouls CAN be commited but overlooked or ignored and thereby deemed not to exist.
The rules are silent on WHY the foul was overlooked or ignored.
In fact, it was the OP's partner who elected to continue play. He was not forced to do so by the opponent. If there is a "moral obligation" it would be
that the players have a fundamental responsibility to know the rules of the game they are playing and to CAREFULLY monitor play in the absence of a referee.
It was CLEARLY the fault of the OP's team to voluntarily continue play and when they did so, the prior foul was CANCELED.
My opinion would change if the RULES stated that players are obligated to call fouls on themselves, failing which, they are guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct.
But AFAIK, there is no such rule.
Personally, I ROUTINELY call fouls on myself but not not out of any sense of morality...whatsoever. Rather, I do so because it is my personal choice to win...or lose...in complaince with the outcome as it would be in a refereed match.
If in fact, it was pointed out to me that an opponent had commited a foul that I didn't see or was unaware of the rules...I would be upset WITH MYSELF for not paying attention or being ignorant of the rules.
If there is no rule requiring self-calling of fouls of fouls or failing to warn another player of an impending foul, then the TD in this case made a BAD decision.
Regards,
Jim
Regards,
Jim