[EricH]

Originally Posted by ratdude747

In 2014 at crossroads regional there was an incident between a ref and a spectator that as reported at the time would have fallen under that and resulted in a red turned yellow (after a call to HQ). What I don't remember if the rule existed then (IIRC it had some effect on the rules going forward?).

There was a rule. The "civility rule" has been in the manual for a long long time. [Edit] Found it, courtesy of FIRST's archive.

Originally Posted by 2014 Manual

3.2.3.5 G13
All Teams must be civil towards other Teams, competition personnel, and event attendees.
Violation: Potential RED CARD for violations in the ARENA.
Teams will not receive RED/YELLOW CARDS for off-ARENA actions; however,
designated competition personnel will hold them accountable for their off-ARENA actions.

That would have been a red if that was the rule, but then there was another rule, also a longtime rule. The "egregious behavior" rule, in fact, is in exactly the same place as it was this year.

Originally Posted by 2014 Manual

5.5.4 YELLOW and RED CARDS
The Head Referee may assign a YELLOW or RED CARD as a result of egregious ROBOT or Team member behavior at the ARENA. A RED CARD results in DISQUALIFICATION.

I'm guessing that the ref called "uncivil behavior in the Arena" and HQ downgraded to "egregious team member behavior".