Question Number: 25795

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 11/30/2011

RE: Rec Other

Nathan of Bangalore, India asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25772

This is a follow up to the question where a player left the field of play without permission (Team B). His absence placed the other team's striker in an off-side position (Team A). When team A passed the ball to the striker, I blew the whistle for off-sides, not knowing that the last defender for team B had left the field. The AR also flagged for off-sides, and both of us were astounded to see the last defender come charging on to the field as the whistle was blown to defend his goal.

In the previous thread, I said I had given a direct kick from the spot the striker had received the ball. The ref responses here said that I should have given a drop ball. That's fine, although it seems a bit unfair to the attacking team who were in a clear goal-scoring position.

My follow-up question is this: How do you keep this from becoming a tactic? If a clear goal-scoring opportunity is thwarted by a foul, it is a red card, correct? In this case, a clear goal scoring opportunity was thwarted by the ref (me) backed by the AR, both of whom were unaware that a player had left the field. If the player had left in order to deceive the ref, would that warrant a red card since it was a clear goal scoring opportunity? Or would it be a yellow card similar to a dive in the penalty area?

Thanks
Nathan

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nathan
There are two remedies here.
1. The AR must be alert at all times and ensure that he is taking account of all defenders including those over the goal line. Had the flag not been raised here for erroneous offside play would have continued and the goal scoring opportunity availed of.
2. If the movement by the defender was deliberate then the referee should caution the defender for deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee's permission at the next stoppage of play.
The Laws of the Game expects that play will continue. As play has been stopped in error the restart is a dropped ball from where the ball was when play was stopped. That is harsh but it is due to an error by the AR and referee for which they should apologize.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This is not an example of DOGSO. It's an example of referee error.
It may seem unfair but the whistle should never have been blown so the restart must be a dropped ball.
If in the opinion of the referee the defender left the field of play to unfairly place an opponent in an offside position, he is cautioned and shown the yellow card.
Bottom line is the AR must be vigilant and stay aware of the location of all the players