<p>Covered by the <a href="http://www.wizards.com/ContentResources/Wizards/WPN/Main/Documents/Magic_The_Gathering_Tournament_Rules_PDF1.pdf">Tournament Rules</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Any person physically present at a tournament and not in any other category above is a spectator. Spectators are responsible for remaining silent and passive during matches and other official tournament sections in which players are also required to be silent. <strong>If spectators believe they have observed a rules or policy violation, they are encouraged to alert a judge as soon as possible.</strong> At Regular or Competitive REL, spectators are permitted to ask the players to pause the match while they alert a judge. At Professional REL, spectators must not interfere with the match directly.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>(Emphasis mine)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-17T18:57:54.067Z
So they're encouraged to, but not required to?
Sam I am says Reinstate Monica
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-17T19:10:41.977Z
Yep - probably to dodge the question of "how do you punish a spectator?"
Allen Gould
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-17T19:16:21.073Z
Yes, that's what it says. But that shouldn't be a surprise; the same goes at any other kind of event, and even in society in general. Requiring spectators (or bystanders) to report errors (or crimes) creates a slew of problems. It's best to let moral and societal pressures encourage it.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-17T22:12:52.943Z
In contrast, the Laws of Duplicate {Tournament] Bridge *specifically forbid* kibitzers from any interaction with the players at all during the play of a round, unless at the behest of a Tournament Director (Law 76 B, page 93): http://www.acbl.org/assets/documents/play/Laws-of-Duplicate-Bridge.pdf
Forget I was ever here
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-17T17:57:20.307Z
2013-12-17T18:25:24.823Z
2013-12-17T18:25:24.823Z
ikegami
<p>If you're a spectator to a game at either competitive or professional REL and you see a gamestate error occur, should you call a judge?</p>

<p>What happens if you don't call a judge?</p>

<p>Is it different if you see blatant cheating or bribery instead of a gamestate error?</p>

<magic-the-gathering><mtg-competitive-rel><mtg-professional-rel>
Are you required to call a judge if you're not involved in the game?
Sam I am says Reinstate Monica
# Are you required to call a judge if you're not involved in the game?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-17)

If you're a spectator to a game at either competitive or professional REL and you see a gamestate error occur, should you call a judge?

What happens if you don't call a judge?

Is it different if you see blatant cheating or bribery instead of a gamestate error?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering, mtg-competitive-rel, mtg-professional-rel


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-17. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

Covered by the [Tournament Rules](http://www.wizards.com/ContentResources/Wizards/WPN/Main/Documents/Magic_The_Gathering_Tournament_Rules_PDF1.pdf):

> Any person physically present at a tournament and not in any other category above is a spectator. Spectators are responsible for remaining silent and passive during matches and other official tournament sections in which players are also required to be silent. **If spectators believe they have observed a rules or policy violation, they are encouraged to alert a judge as soon as possible.** At Regular or Competitive REL, spectators are permitted to ask the players to pause the match while they alert a judge. At Professional REL, spectators must not interfere with the match directly.

(Emphasis mine)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So they're encouraged to, but not required to?  
> **username_2**: Yep - probably to dodge the question of "how do you punish a spectator?"  
> **username_1**: Yes, that's what it says. But that shouldn't be a surprise; the same goes at any other kind of event, and even in society in general. Requiring spectators (or bystanders) to report errors (or crimes) creates a slew of problems. It's best to let moral and societal pressures encourage it.  
> **username_3**: In contrast, the Laws of Duplicate {Tournament] Bridge *specifically forbid* kibitzers from any interaction with the players at all during the play of a round, unless at the behest of a Tournament Director (Law 76 B, page 93): http://www.acbl.org/assets/documents/play/Laws-of-Duplicate-Bridge.pdf  

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