Question Number: 35899

Law 5 - The Referee 3/30/2025

RE: Competetive Under 14

Daniel Robinson of Derby, UK asks...

If I was to give advantage for a clip on a player outside the box and that player has then taken 3 further players on and then fouled in the box for a clear penalty.
Do I revert back to the initial foul or give a penalty?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Daniel
Thanks for the question
As advantage has been played a referee will allow advantage to continue and penalise the 2nd offence which obviously is more advantageous to the fouled against team with the award of a penalty kick.

Another way to look at it is if the first offence was not called or was not seen what would the referee award? Or if advantage was played say 15 / 20 yards previous and the player is then fouled in the penalty area? A penalty kick would be awarded

It would only be brought back to the original offence if advantage did not accrue. A penalty kick would be considered an advantage

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Daniel,

Law 5 says that the referee allows play to continue whenever the non-offending team will benefit and only comes back to the original offence if there was no advantage to be gained.

Since a penalty is assuredly an advantage to the non-offending team, that is what you should go with. Denying them a penalty and awarding a free kick instead would actually disadvantage them, which is not what the law intends.