Question Number: 25089

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/10/2011

RE: Competitive Adult

Jack Smith of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25061

Okay, I'm going to go with you on a player committing misconduct against a spectator = dropped ball restart.

But what about this indiscrepancy then?

'If a player standing inside the field of play throws an object at any person
standing outside the field of play, the referee restarts play with an indirect
free kick from the position of the ball when play was stopped (see Law 13 "
Position of free kick)'

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jack
That what the Law states and it is up to the referee to implement that accordingly. The comment that I would make is that the referee has to determine who 'any person' is. If it is someone connected with play such player, official etc then that is consistent.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Right above that statement we find this:

against another person, play is restarted with a dropped ball from the
position of the ball when play was stopped, unless play was stopped
inside the goal area, in which case the referee drops the ball on the
goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the
ball was located when play was stopped

Since the question did not involve anything thrown, the restart is a dropped ball