Question Number: 24602

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/20/2011

RE: competitive Under 13

L. Howe of Davidson, NC United States asks...

Explain a straight red card for the last defender who takes the ball away (outside the box) from a player on a break away.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The offence is denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity. The law makers introduced a law that severely punished any player that fouled an opponent who denied an opponent the opportunity to score. Over the years there had been examples of players committing what was seen as a 'professional' fouls and only receiving a caution. This was seen as unfair and bad for the game as players were happy to accept a caution while denying a good opportunity to score a goal. So the dismissal is there to curb these type of fouls and it has to an extent succeeded although there are still incidents where the dismissal is still preferred to the goal. Here is an example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBrFlDpQudY
A similar dismissal is used where the player stops a goal or goal scoring opportunity by deliberate handling.
To evaluate whether a foul merits a dismissal the referee looks for what is referred to as the 4Ds. This is what the Laws of the Game says on the 4Ds
'Referees should consider the following circumstances when deciding whether to send off a player for denying a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity:
# the distance between the offence and the goal
# the likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball
# the direction of the play
# the location and number of defenders
# the offence which denies an opponent an obvious goalscoring opportunity may be an offence that incurs a direct free kick or an indirect free kick'
Referees then evaluate the incident based on the above criteria so lets say that the offence just happened outside the penalty area (25yards), the attacker had clear control of the ball in a dribble, the attacker is headed straight for goal, with all defenders behind him or perhaps one defender to beat which he does and that defender fouls the attacker then it is a direct free kick and as the foul met all the conditions of the 4Ds the defender is dismissed and shown a red card. Take away one of the 4Ds and the DOGSO criteria fails. Examples would be where the attacker was moving away from goal towards the corner flag, there were multiple defenders present, the attacker did not have control/possession of the ball etc.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Taking the ball away was likely not the problem. It was the foul involved while taking the ball away. Without a foul, there is no offense.

Just because the player 'got the ball', that doesn't mean there was no foul. There could have been illegal contact with the player before the ball was kicked. Or more likely, the ball was kicked away but the challenge took out the opponent as well.

Ref McHugh explains the consequences for a foul which denies a goal-scoring opportunity, and defines what is considered an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

'Last defender' is how players refer to the red card for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity by an infringement punishable by a free kick. As Ref McHugh notes, there are four elements used by the referee to decided if a goal scoring opportunity was obvious. If any of the four elements are missing, the referee will not send off the player, but could still caution the defender and show a yellow card.

The sendoff offense gives a defender a good reason not to foul on every breakaway. By raising the stakes, the laws promote attacking soccer.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Taking the ball away is not an offense. the red card offense is denying an opponent a goal or obvious goal scoring opportunity by committing an offense punishable by a free kick.

The last defender is the last opponent between ah attacker and the keeper. Most referees will see a one on one situation with the keeper as at the least an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Ref McHugh outlines the requirements but at a basic level, if the last defender fouls or commits misconduct on an attacker preventing the attacker from a reasonable shot on goal, he's going to be sent off for DOGSO

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

See Question: 33477