Question Number: 22814

Law 5 - The Referee 2/12/2010

RE: Under 18

Steven of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

Can the ref after playing advantage at the next stoppage send a player off?

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Steven, it is possible but highly unlikely. If there was a send off offense play should be stopped and the offense dealt with forthwith.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steven
The only time that this is likely to happen is in a goal scoring opportunity in front of goal. In that case the referee could play advantage and then dismiss the player.
This is what the Laws of the Game says
' Advantage should not be applied in situations involving serious foul play/violent conduct unless there is a clear subsequent opportunity to score a goal. The referee shall send off the player guilty of serious foul play/violent conduct when the ball is next out of play. (Two separate quotes edited into one).
As regards the other sending off offences which are denying an obvious goal or goal scoring opportunity, spitting, offensive, insulting and abusive language/gestures(offinabus) and the second caution referees do play advantage on the DOGSO ones, if they can, as it is a clear goal scoring opportunity. If a goal is scored there is no need to dismiss and the player is cautioned. On Offinabus and spitting they rarely happen in open play but the same principle would apply. On the second caution it is always difficult to go back, after playing advantage, to caution as it can be perceived that as play was allowed to continue that in some way it was not deserving of a dismissal.
In summary if a player is going to be dismissed referees are advised to deal with it immediately unless there is a clear goal scoring opportunity.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Within Law, yes, any misconduct may be punished at the next stoppage. But if it's for serious foul play or violent conduct you should not delay the send off more than a few seconds and then only if there's a chance a goal may be scored quickly. Delaying will almost certainly cause pandemonium and you risk starting a mass confrontation which nobody wants.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Sure. Suppose during play, an attacker is spit upon by a defending player. But at that very moment, the attacking team is numbers up and has a goalscoring opportunity. The referee allows advantage, and he knows the AR on that side is keeping an eye on those two. The goal is scored. Before kick-off the referee will send off the defender for spitting.

Perfectly acceptable. Another example would be a teammate screaming obscenities at one of his own players - but if the opponents have an advantage, there is no need for the referee to stop play immediately.

It will depend on the situation. As my colleagues have noted, FIFA does not recommend allowing advantage where SFP or VC have occurred, unless a goal is imminent (within a second or two). But in any other situation, the referee will be able to decide whether the temperature of the game, the seriousness of the incident, or the possible advantage if the whistle is not immediately blown merit holding off and then sending off the player at the next stoppage.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes. The referee can elect to issue any misconduct at the next stoppage. The rule of thumb is to stop play right away for send offs, but the Laws of the Game do allow us to wait until next stoppage if we so choose to.