If Fencer X protests after receiving a BLACK CARD due to a RED CARD not noted on the scoresheet, what is the outcome?

In this scenario, when Fencer X receives a BLACK CARD due to a RED CARD that was not noted on the scoresheet, the appropriate response is that X's protest is valid, but it leads to an additional disciplinary action. Specifically, when a fencer disrupts the order of the match by protesting a card that was not properly documented, the referee has the authority to issue a RED CARD for this behavior.

This outcome occurs because a protest over a procedural issue can signal a failure to adhere to the expected conduct during the competition. Fencing rules place a strong emphasis on order and sportsmanship, and disrupting the match with a protest can be considered unsportsmanlike behavior. Therefore, the referee responds not just to the protest itself, but to the manner in which it was raised.

The other options do not appropriately address the implications of the situation. While the protest itself is valid based on its content, the act of protesting in this manner does not warrant an award of a touch or a referral to higher authorities, as it is part of the immediate referee’s discretion to maintain order. Thus, the issuance of a RED CARD in response to the protest serves both to penalize Fencer X for their conduct and to reinforce the importance of adhering to