Question Number: 35615

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/11/2024

RE: Competive

Iain Doleman of Las vegas, NV United States asks...

Attacking player is fouled outside PA, referee plays advantage, as ball goes to teammate inside PA who is fouled and loses possession.
What is the restart?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Iain
Thanks for the question.

Very simple in that as advantage has been played and as an attacking player has been fouled in the penalty area the more advantageous decision is made which is to award a penalty kick.

The second offence can also be considered on whether it should result in a card for the offence which is up to the referee to decide based on all the circumstances such as whether it was reckless, serious foul play, denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity etc.

The first offence could not be considered stopping a promising attack as advantage was played and realised on the award of the penalty kick. It could be a card if the challenge was reckless etc although many times on a card situation a referee may be slow to play advantage.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ian,
easy peasy
Apply advantage award the PK!

Understand that regardless if there was a teammate or even if the same player was fouled twice we are always going with the PK if the 2nd foul is inside the defending PA while we are debating if the 1st foul needed to be brought back?

Advantage is literally what is the best outcome we can derive from the misconduct or fouls while we are actually considering an outcome. The greatest is a Goal, the second a PK, the third a free kick outside the PA that could score directly or quickly, to a free kick of simple possession to restart the attack.

You can allow an outcome and when applying advantage that is realized you apply the cards/cautions at the next stoppage. If there is cautionable or send off misconduct attached or present within the 1st or 2nd foul be it the same player or two separate ones. You show the cards first, reduce players if required and THEN the PK occurs!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Ian,
As my colleagues have stated this is a pretty straightforward decision. The principle in operation here is to give the advantage to the team that has been offended against, and since the most advantageous decision to give for them in this instance is the penalty, that is what the referee should do.

As they also state, each offence should be considered on its own merits to decide if any further sanction is needed.