Question Number: 34530

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/12/2022

Crebs Crem of Zagreb, Croatia asks...

Hello,
I have a question about dropped ball. For example, a player of team A makes a shot towards opponent’s goal. The ball passes everbody and is clearly going into the net. However, one of the outside agents enters into the pitch enter clears the ball upfield. At this point, I guess the restart decision would be a dropped ball for the goalkeeper of team B. In this case, can the referee tell team B’s goalkeeper to kick the ball into touch since team A had possession of the ball before the play stopped?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Crebs
The answer is no and the referee has no powers to do this nor should he advise.

The referee should report the incident to the competition organisers who will probably sanction the outside agent if that person can be identified plus any team that he is connected with probably a fine and maybe some other sanction.

IFAB the law makers were acutely aware of such unsporting conduct when they amended the law to punish such offence with a direct free kick if it was committed by a person on the match card such as a substitute or technical staff. If say the offence was committed by a team official the restart would be a penalty kick.

As to the Fair Play aspect of this it is highly unlikely that possession will satisfy the attacking team. That is of no concern to the referee who should simply enforce the law as required.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI, Crebs,
good to hear from you,  
the referee can not award a goal even knowing the ball would 100% fully have crossed the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts. As a neutral official, the referee has no responsibility other than enforcing the LOTG to keep the players safe and guide the competitive match to a successful conclusion with a minimum of interference!  The referee would document the event in the match report and those who enforce the disciplineary aspects would be looking to come down hard on the responsible parties!  

A DB to the keeper as the restart option might seem unfair & if a referee was approached and asked what could be done he might point out they have the option of following their conscience but the neutral official can not compel players to do this or that. Players must decide via their character what part of their own view of the essential spirit of Fairplay figures into their own decisions.
  
I have been disgusted by the cheaters, liars who defame the beautiful game with unsavory actions. Yet I am heartened by those who refuse to dive, who will not take a PK feeling the referee was in error as they feel they fell by their own actions or accept a goal that came off their arm.  Integrity is a coat that you do not take on & off when it is convenient. Your wear it with dignity and honor or you tarnish it with a win at all cost ego.
 
The REASON to change the DB LOTG was to help alleviate fair play decisions because even when teams tried to return the ball or not score they occasionally did and had to deal with the aftermath. 

The change in free-kicks awarded by actions of NON-players now includes all team members on the pitch or technical areas from the subs, manager, coach, trainers, etc... shows just how serious they treat this kind of intervention. There is no DB now, we have the DFK or PK restarts, the cards and send offs for those culpable with additional disciplinary measures & fines imposed by the league itself. 

If the person responsible is NOT with the team in any legal manner, thus a DB is the ONLY option such an individual would likely be banned from further venues and possibly criminally charged. Certainly removed from the immediate venue post haste before continuing! Stadium security upgrades and possible replay options with no spectators in future venues might be imposed depending in the match results and or circumstances. That however, is NOT the duty of the referee.
Cheers