Question Number: 25514

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 9/28/2011

RE: competitive Under 19

Joel of Fallbrook, California USA asks...

In my previous game, the ball had gone out for a throw-in and one of the players on my team was arguing with the referee and was yellow carded. The ball had not been throw-in yet and was in our possession but as soon as the ref gave out the card, he placed the ball where my teammate had been carded. The other team was then given an indirect free kick from that spot. Was the action taken by the referee correct?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Joel
if depends on whether the offence happened before the ball went out of play or not. If the caution was for dissent and it happened after the ball went out of play the throw in restart does not change. If the player was showing dissent before the ball went out of play then the player is cautioned and the restart is an IDFK from where the offence took place.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

When a player is cautioned for misconduct that occurred when the ball is out of play, the restart does not change. The expected restart in your situation is the throw-in.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the ball was out of play before the caution the referee made a big mistake. You can't change the restart once the ball is out of play. If not, then indirect free kick at the point of misconduct is correct. Tell your teammate to just be quiet in the future.