Question Number: 25067

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 6/6/2011

RE: U-10 Rec Under 11

J Caesar of Long Beach, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24990

Recent discussions about restarts (IFKs vs. dropped balls) leads me to this question, a hypothetical based on a play I witnessed as an AR and would want to handle correctly as center ref.

Half a field behind the play, I spot an attacker shove a defender to the ground with an elbow to the back. Probably something retaliatory for something we had not seen earlier. I see this as cautionable as UB. However, at this age, we're not handing out cards, so I would plan to do a firm talking-to.

Regardless, if I stop play for this, where might I award an IFK? At the spot of the foul (behind the play)?

If the play were reversed - defender being unsportsmanlike against attacker, but well away from the play - and I were to apply advantage, I would address this at the next dead ball, correct?

Thanks in advance.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It wouldn't be an indirect free kick at all. Pushing is a foul, as is using the elbow to strike. Both of them would result in a direct free kick, at the site of the push/strike.

If you wish to apply advantage, then you address any misconduct at the next stoppage. The restart then is the reason that play was stopped, not the misconduct.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The offence you describe here is a penal foul punished by a direct free kick or a penalty after the player is cautioned or dismissed.
If the referee plays advantage then the player is cautioned or dismissed at the next stoppage. The restart is then the normal restart.
I might add that it is not a good idea to play advantage on VC and also if a player is guilty of misconduct such as using an elbow to push, strike then that player needs to be dealt with. If cards are not being issued then it is incumbent on the coach to deal with the situation in a disciplinary manner such as a substitution. When cards are not used the caoches have to be part of discipline.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You may see this as a cautionable offense but it is still the direct free kick offense of pushing an opponent so the restart is a direct free kick at the spot of the push.