Question Number: 19568

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/4/2008

Chris of Vancouver, Canada asks...

Dear Panel,

Thanks for your continuing help. looking forward to applying some of Ref Fleischer's booking mechanics that I learned recently.

I have a question on You-Call-it #14. I really enjoy these questions, and incidentally, You-call-it #15 has me completely stumped.

But back to #14. Basically the gist of the situation is that one of the ARs has seen violent conduct (VC) away from the ball by a blue player in his own penalty area during play, but the Ref has now stopped and restarted play before realizing that the AR was signalling for VC.

The situation was educational and I learned much. However, I am not convinced that the restart given in the answer to #14(IDFK) is the correct restart.

Assuming that the restart given after the foul occurred, but before the AR's flag was noticed, was legitimate, (in the answer to #14, you allow a possibility that the ref squeaks out of the situation by saying his restart wasn't legal), it is clear the referee has missed his opportunity for the the penalty kick. This means that were it an offence for a DFK, he would have lost that too. By extention, the same applies for an offence resulting in a IDFK, e.g. PIADM or impeding. No free kicks or penalty kick can be awarded here, since the foul has come and gone, and another restart already given.

This leaves a dropped ball.

In support of this, in the LOTG, 2007/2008 version, the following is stated under 'Interpretation Of The Laws Of The Game And Guidelines For Referees', Law 6, section 'Assistant Referee Signals', subsection 'Flag technique and Teamwork':
' . . . Whenever the assistant referee signals for violent conduct and the signal
is not seen immediately:
? if play has been stopped for disciplinary action to be taken, the restart must be in accordance with the Laws (free kick, penalty kick etc.)
? if play has already restarted, only disciplinary action may be taken.'

Note that the first part mentions 'free kick' not specifying whether DFK or IDFK, thus showing that the second part deals with misconduct only, and a 'free kick' cannot be awarded.

Thus, the correct start, in my view, is a dropped ball.

In defence of the IDFK, the #14 answer quotes from law 12, 'An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee:
commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player. The indirect free kick is taken from where the offence occurred.'

But this is referring to 'any other offence' occurring during current play, and was obviously not meant to be an all-getter that nows extends into the past once a restart has been given. I'm not convinced that interpretation and application of this passage from law 12 given in answer #14 can withstand the caveat that I quoted from the LOTG earlier. In fact, this caveat seems to completely preclude any such interpretation.

The article also mentions the Zidane headbutt scenario in support, and states that after the red card to Zidane, the Italians were given an IDFK.

Actually, the Referee restarted with a dropped ball!

The Italians then politely kicked it to the French. You can see it on YOUTUBE if you don't have the game recorded.

I'm not tryng to challenge your answer, I'm trying to understand this scenario. If I am wrong, please help me to understand why.

Thx

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

There is nothing wrong in challenging an answer especially when there are obvious deficiencies in it.
You are correct the referee did restart with a drop ball. I will take out that section of the data, it is wrong, so many thanks for setting me straight. I am at a loss to think why I remember it as an INDFK?? Good for you on spotting that, you are the only response to date that has suggested we are wrong based on that video, strange there are usually dozens of guys looking to find a mistake so they can go gotcha on us!

The issue of the drop ball restart is if the laws do not allow any other.
In my opinion an INDFK is the correct restart if play is stopped solely to show a card!
In the Zidane incident, it was the 4th official who actually witnessed the incident! Perhaps the referee felt compelled to go with the drop ball because he initially was stopping for the Italian supposedly injured on the ground?
The restart was in fact inconsequential as to its location and as you indicated the Italians gave it back to the French.

Your astute observations on this segment
"Whenever the assistant referee signals for violent conduct and the signal is not seen immediately:
? if play has been stopped for disciplinary action to be taken, the restart must be in accordance with the Laws (free kick, penalty kick etc.)
? if play has already restarted; only disciplinary action may be taken.'""

This does not suggest in my opinion the proper restart for a stoppage solely to show a late card must be a drop ball only that the misconduct is still to be held accountable as the referee is unaware of it. If it was why not add that in?

Law 12 states we are to restart with an INDFK for any stoppage where a card is shown because misconduct by a player or substitute is held accountable for that action and it is the REASON for the stoppage.

IN YCI #15 the issue is one of compassion and law and if you could should you do so? override one or the other?
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Chris and thanks for question. The gist here is that play was stopped for misconduct as it was in the Zindane incident. In BOTH cases, the restart should be an indirect free kick. I believe the dropped ball was in fact the wrong restart

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Chris you have a well thought out question and given your assumptions valid points. One assumption that may alter your conclusion was the referee's restart of play was, indeed, correct.

Look at the time of the match, the level of the match and then try to figure out what is going through the referee's head.

First is this: I've gotten away with a well managed World Cup Final.

Next comes: WHAT? Who did what to whom? NO! Really?? Aw Crap.

Are you going to get that restart correct?

Regards,