Question Number: 35765

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/20/2024

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

This question is a follow up to question 35760

Perhaps I could have asked more generally like this: The advantage is nullified by the touch of the referee, substitute or outside agent. (The advantage is nullified by something other than the opponent). Does the player who fouled (SPA, careless) before receive a yellow card?

Otherwise, the case from Mr. Dawson's tournament is great :-)

Have a good time. And I hope I'm silent now :-)

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Petr,
if there is no advantage then we go back to the original foul, which is SPA, thus a yellow card caution would be shown and the DFK awarded. If it was a DB, AFTER the advantage had in the opinion of the referee been achieved, then no caution, just the DB restart.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Petr
Thanks for the follow up.

As a general comment I say to referees to ask themselves this notional question “Would they send off the player for a second caution in these situations”?
There are times when there has to be a judgement call on a card so this question is helpful in my opinion.

So in your example the referee plays advantage on a careless foul that had the potential to stop a promising attack with play continuing and advantage fully realised with the ball then hitting the referee who stops play to give the ball back to the attacking team in possession. What would be the judgement opinion of a decision to caution for the original foul which could have the potential to send the player off?

It is for this reason that the Law book states in a few places **...if the offence was interfering with or stopping a promising attack, the player is not cautioned.**