Question Number: 21145

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 4/18/2009

RE: Select Under 15

Steve Harris of Salem, Ma US asks...

If a ref whistles play dead to give a verbal warning to a player for unsporting behavior the restart should be (what) ?

I say a free kick for the team not being warned

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I say you're dead wrong. Stopping play to warn a player without the issuance of a card requires a dropped ball restart wherever the ball was at the time of the stoppage (keeping in mind the special circumstances in the goal area). Remember there is no set number of players, in fact none is okay, required to participate in a dropped ball.

If the referee actually gave a caution for UB, then the restart is an IDFK wherever the player was when play was stopped for the caution.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the referee stops play to issue a verbal warning ONLY to a player on the field, the ONLY allowable restart is a dropped ball at the place the ball was when the referee stopped play unless the ball was inside a goal area. The referee would have to caution and show the yellow card in order for an IDFK to be awarded.