Question Number: 25391

Law 5 - The Referee 9/4/2011

RE: Adult

Gareth of Craigavon, Armagh Northern Ireland asks...

Was at a match yesterday and witnessed a refereeing decision that I questioned at the time but I was told it was covered in the rules but I cant find it so would appreciate some help!


Opposing team were on the attack, foul occurred, ref shouts play on, giving advantage.

Two or three passes later, same team in possession, play the ball forward and it bounces up hitting one of their players on the hand, clear handball.

Instead of giving a free kick to our team the referee awarded a free kick to our opponents from the spot first advantage was given, was this the correct decision?

Thanks


Gareth

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Gareth
This does not read correct to me. Two or three passes later means that advantage has been realised and the referee cannot go back to the original foul on which advantage was being played. Now if the advantage was not realised within 2/3 seconds the referee is entitled to go back to the original foul.
Also the ball bouncing up and hitting a player on the hand is not clear deliberate handling. In fact many times it is not deliberate and play should be allowed to continue.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It sounds strange to me as well. Whether or not advantage materializes should be decided in a short time, usually 2-3 seconds. It wouldn't take 2 or 3 passes of the ball.

In addition, your description of the 'clear handball' doesn't sound like deliberate handling to me, unless the hand was stretched out so that the player 'made himself bigger'.

Not seeing the entire sequence, it is hard to guess just what the referee's thought process was.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee needs to make a judgment call whether the advantage has been realized in the three seconds or so after a foul. Three seconds can seem like a very long time. (A player can easily travel ten meters in three seconds.)

Most referees might wait for one or two quick passes to determine that the advantage did not realize, and then call play back for the foul.
Few referees would judge that a team which has made three passes (and then a player deliberately handled the ball) did not receive the benefit of the advantage.

While only the referee on the field can make the determination, I'm with my colleagues in thinking this an unusual decision.

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