Question Number: 25032

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 5/30/2011

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

I looked at the questions & answers concerning restarts in Questions:
24516
24677
24809
24976
24990
25020
I found it a little hard to follow, so I'd like to see if this is an accurate summary of these restarts for misconduct...and then I have a question at the end.

Referee Keith Contarino (Question 25020) cited Advice to Referees, Chart 12:35, which gives restarts & punishments for misconduct that occurs on & off the field.

Except for listed DFKs/penalty kicks, it seems this is what happens (DB always occurs where the ball was):

On the field:
? If a player commits an offense against a teammate or referee, IFK where offense occurred.
? If a player commits an offense against a substitute or substituted player, IFK where ball was.
? If a player commits an offense against anyone else or no one, DB.
? If a player leaves the field to commit an offense against anyone, IFK where ball was.
? If a substitute or substituted player commits an offense against anyone, IFK where ball was.

Basically, if on the field, its an IFK. If its off the field OR on the field, but directed at a spectator or no one in particular, the restart is a DB. Any offense by a non-participant is a DB.

Assuming (hoping) the above is correct, why is there a difference in the location of the IFK in the first two examples? i.e. if a player commits an offense against the referee team or a teammate, it's where the offense occurs. If against a sub or sub'd player, it's where the ball was.

Thanks again for all the help.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Geez you have been doing your homework.
Anyway the reason for this is that IFAB wanted to bring uniformity to these restarts. In the 2005 season many of the dropped ball restarts where changed to indirect free kicks that involved offences against/by substitutes, substituted players etc.
In the first example the IDFK is awarded from where the offence took place which happened against those entitled to be on the FOP. That is normal for offences on the FOP. In the second example the substitute or substituted player is not entitled to be on the field of play so the referee stops play, deals with the offender and then restarts with an IDFK from where the ball was when play was stopped.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I would just add that, as you say, if a player leaves the field for the purpose of committing misconduct, IDFK where ball was but if the player is already off the FOP or goes off during normal course of play and commits misconduct dropped ball where ball was