Question Number: 16729

Law 5 - The Referee 9/16/2007

RE: Competitive Adult

Al of Sarnia, ON CANADA asks...

Had this situation today and need to ask if advantage can ever be applied after a sending off offense occurs?

Game very peaceful. Very few hard tackles and 2 Cautions. 2 minutes left in match.

Attacker streaking on angle toward goal about 30 yards out. Turns defender inside out. In frustration defender, with clear intent to injure, kicks violently at running attacker barely clipping him. Attacker does not notice attempt on his life. As whistle is coming up, attacker is now 15 yards out with clear opportunity to shoot. No one on attacker's team is holding defender to task. I apply advantage and call out, "I'll deal with him at next stop in play," keeping a close eye on any potential retaliation. Keeper makes strong save ball to corner and play continues for 2 minutes before ball is next out of play. I blow final whistle to end match.

Defender is held to task and shown red card. Did I do right thing here or should I have stopped play immediately or resorted to Caution at end of match?

My assessor roasted me on this decision to allow play to continue. However, I am supported very strongly in Law 5, including FIFA QA #6 under Law 5. If there never is a circumstance where advantage can be given, why would QA support me?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Super question Al and one that deserves much thought. Me, I tend to go off without thinking to quote some readers. Anyway here goes: usually you want to get a player to the showers when he asks to be sent. Usually!! Two minutes remaining and a clear advantage looming in front of you is one of the usually things. Usually.

Think if you will of the defender with murder in mind knowing you said he'll be dealt with soon. Does this not give him Carte Blanche to commit further mayhem? Possible, just possible though that's not the worst that will happen when one is familiar with Corollary one to Murphy's Law. [when something goes wrong it will be the worst thing that can go wrong.] Things happen exactly as you write. the ball is saved and we swap ends a few times. The score is level then our defender is unmarked on the left and sees a chance to make a run, he does and someone drops a long ball in front of him, he beats the keeper and wins the match for his side. That is the next stoppage in play.

There you are Al, ready to blow for time and a goal happens, the guy you were going to send-off has scored it, time expires, It is time for you to apply justice. What to do, what to do. He is guilty of using excessive force and violence in an attempt to injure an opponent. That is a sending-off offence. --- see where this one is going...

If you don't send him off he plays next week and will probably do the same thing. That's a given. But look at the spectators in the stadium and wonder where their cheers will go, or turn into when you send-off the player who just scored the winning goal.

The big question is, did you reverse into parking so you can make a quick get away? I think the assessor might have wanted that not to happen to you.

Me, I would have played advantage too. But I would have had a phantom next stoppage ever so soon after to deal with our miscreant defender. Happens all the time, could've sworn he grabbed a jersey, handled the ball, attempted to trip, whatever.

Good question, sort of makes you think...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

As referees we are given vast discrestionary powers and as you said you can look to Q&A and the law for support ! The fact your assessor was peeved is likely his position where the serious nature of a violent attack simply is too profound not to immediate stop play and be dealt with! It is not a unreasonable position to take! Thankfully no one did retailiate and no additional misconduct occurred because if that defender who was being sent off did do something else how to you justify the result of the second incident? You took a chance gambled on a good chance to score that too is not unreasonable but I will ask you this in law 5 it states you are not OBLIGATED to stop play but are you aware you still could? That is right the red card waiting for the MISCONDUCT is still there and if you stop play to show him a card the correct restart is an indfk from where that misconduct was.

referee law 5 the referee takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offences. He is not obliged to take this action immediately but must do so when the ball next goes out of play.
If you stop play then the ball is out of play!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Al. You are indeed supported in Law for your decision but I side with your assessor on this one. My fellow referees cover many of the things that can go wrong if you wait

Answer provided by Referee Jon Sommer

Well here's my view; Sir, i think you were absolutely spot on. The aim of football is to score legal goals and we are there to allow this to happen and punish those who try to prevent it. This defender is guilty of both violent conduct and DOGSO so playing advantage an giving the striker a GSO does not take away from the violent conduct, he still must go. In my experience, if you are right there on the scene and say as you said "ADVANTAGE? PLAY ON? I'LL DEAL WITH HIM IN A BIT" loudly so everyone hears and the defenders knows not to make his life worse, then you are fully supported by me and more importantly law. If your assessor saw retaliation happening then maybe he was correct to roast you, but if you dealt with it then in my opinon you did well, and the dismissal should still stand at the next stoppage which in your case was the final whistle.

Great question and all the best in striving to improve

Regards

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 16776

See Question: 16784