Question Number: 13863

Law 1- The Field 9/21/2006

RE: Rec Under 17

David S of Toronto, Canada asks...

I was watching a CLS game there was a play that was kind of wierd. It was along the goal line inside the 18. there was an attacker and a defender. The attacker tried to get by the defender by putting the ball inside the field and him going outside the goal line. (The ball is still in play). While the attacker goes outside to get around the defender, the defender slides tackles the attacker outside the pitch behind the 18 yard box. What action does the ref takes?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the point of contact was off field, then no foul can be called. Only option is misconduct and ball must be dropped at the location of ball when play stopped.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

This is a classic what if? If the referee can place something of either player on the field of play a foul is present, along with misconduct and a penalty kick results. If completely off the field of play there is only misconduct and play restarts with a dropped ball where it was when the referee stopped play. The referee is well advised to deal with the misconduct as harshly as possible to prevent future occurrences such as this from happening again.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I assume the ball is still on the field of play and both players completely off the field of play. If so, there can be no foul as a foul has to occur on the field of play. the tackle is, therefore, misconduct. Depending upon the severity of the tackle, it would be punished by a caution and showing of the yellow card, or a sending off and showing of the red card. restart is a dropped ball where tha ball was when the incident occured.