Question Number: 23299

Character, Attitude and Control 5/12/2010

RE: travel Under 19

John of aylord, mi Otsego asks...

If the ball is being played at the far end of the field and a comfrontation happens on the other end enough to stop play nothing serious just keeping it under control what would be the restart and where would it take place?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Well, if it's NOT serious why was play stopped? Regardless, the restart is where the infraction took place subject to rules in Law 13. The restart would be commensurate with the infraction.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The answer depends on why the referee stopped play.

Was it for a foul? Restart based on and at the location of the foul?
Was it for misconduct that was not a foul. Restart is an IFK at the spot of the misconduct.
Otherwise (including when the referee wants to stop play to deal with an issue that is not a foul or misconduct - - such as to give a strong warning - - , the restart is a dropped ball where the ball was located when play was stopped.

As Ref Contarino notes, the referee should not stop play for minor and trifling incidents.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee John
If play continues at one end then there is no need for a restart. If however the refreee stops play to say deal with say violent conduct in the other half then he would take the appropriate disciplinary action and restart in the appropriate way either a direct free kick or a penalty depending on the location of the VC offence and who committed it. The other options available to the referee is to stop play, deal with it and if it is not a foul or misconduct to restart with a dropped ball from where the ball was when play was stopped. This is unusual because usually if it is not serious enough to stop play for say a foul then the ref can wait for a natural stoppage such as TI, GK, etc before dealing with it.
If the misconduct is against say an AR then if play is stopped, the referee takes the appropriate disciplnary action and the restart is an IDFK from where the offence happened.