Question Number: 35174

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/21/2023

RE: Comp. Under 18

Larry of Danville, California United States asks...

I was watching a high level U17 boys game and saw on odd situation. Game is tied in the last couple minutes and a PK is called. Before the PK is taken the players are mouthing off to each other and there is some shoving. A YC is given to the GK. Nothing too strange yet. The PK is taken and saved. With the ball in his hands, the GK gets in the face of the kicker and clearly taunts him, but there is no contact. This earns him his second yellow with the follow up red. What should the restart be? The ref restarted with a dropped ball to the new GK. Everybody seemed fine with that, and maybe it was best for the game, but by law I think it should have been an IDFK for the attacking team inside the PA. Your insights are always welcomed.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Larry,
you are spot on mate.
Misconduct prior to the PK dealt with , Check!
Pk taken, save made, play continues with keeper in ball possession for 6 seconds, Check!.
The Keeper decides to taunt an opponent rather than release the ball back into play. Check!

USB verbal taunting is unacceptable & punishable behaviour just as is not releasing the ball back into play after the 6 seconds. By not waiting till a natural stoppage, the taunting must have been seriously vile to cause the referee to stop active play solely to show a card for verbal abuse. The INDFK is correct in law! You did say no contact! I was informed that taunting, if this was a USA HIGH SCHOOL match, is actually a direct red card.

This USB action is rewarded with a stoppage, then the showing of a yellow 2nd caution thus off a ride on the red sleigh of shame, reducing the team by a player. SO either an on field player takes his place or one is substituted for a new keeper, who is the lucky recipient of a DB as that was where the ball was at the stoppage. However, the DB to the keeper is for a stoppage that occurs inside the PA for only specific reasons, like injury or non player interference or an inadvertent incorrect or accidental whistle. I am with you, the INDFK from the place the keeper was when spouting off, subject to the special circumstances of the goal area, is the correct restart .

As a referee I might have intervened early with "Seriously you want to award them another opportunity to score? Get that ball into play stop the nonsense." Warnings are certainly discretionary but the DB restart seems a referee wrestling with a made up dilemma "Well they just had a PK, surly I can not gift another scoring chance from a silly babbling keeper?? Lets just get rid of this clown and get on with the game!" Mind you INDFKs INSIDE the PA, which was the correct restart , so many are taken incorrectly, perhaps the DB served a purpose! But Yes, you were correct!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Larry
Thanks for the question.

You are indeed correct. The restart should have been an IDFK from the location of the verbals by the goalkeeper.

If one thinks about it. Why would an offending team, maybe the same player get the ball back after getting carded?? The goalkeeper’s action was unsporting behaviour and enough for the referee to stop play and issue a caution knowing that it was going to result in a red card.

Now I have seen this a few times in games where referees believe the restart is a dropped ball after a caution for verbals which is why I suspect many present may have been fine with that.
If say the goalkeeper came out with the ball and launched a tirade of verbals towards the referee which resulted in a caution, should the goalkeeper get the ball back after the caution? Clearly not as well.
Verbal offences are all punished by an IDFK.