Question Number: 25429

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/15/2011

RE: Select Under 15

Doug MacIntyre of Rockville, MD USA asks...

In my son's varsity high school game, the ball was about to go over the touch line with 1 player from each team running after it. It was last touched by Team B (my son's team is Team A). As the ball crosses the line (let's assume the entire ball was just over the line), the player from Team B put his shoulder in the back of the player from Team A and knocked him to the ground out of bounds in what the ref saw as a yellow card offense. The restart was a throw-in for Team A. Was this correct? If a yellow card offense occurs when the ball is not in play, does that make the restart NOT an IFK?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the ball is already over the side line, then the only restart possible is a throw-in. The unfair shoulder action was not a foul, because the ball has to be in play for a foul to be called. Anything that happens after the ball is out of play can only be sanctioned as misconduct, which the referee did.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Doug
The answer lies in whether the ball was out of play or not. If the ball was clearly out of play the only possible restart after the caution for misconduct is a throw in. If the ball was still in play the restart is a direct free kick from where the offence took place after the player is cautioned for unsporting behaviour.
Many referees if they are unsure as to the exact moment of the offence relative to the position of the ball will err in favour of awarding the free kick restart.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Misconduct that occurs when the ball is out of play does not change the restart. An IFK is appropriate when play is stopped because of misconduct (that is not otherwise a foul).

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the ball is out of play, the restart has to be whatever is called for by the reason the ball was out of play, in this case a throw in. Has the ball been in play when the player from Team B decked his opponent, the restart would have been a DFK if the action took place on the field which it sounds like it did