Question Number: 25731

Law 5 - The Referee 11/9/2011

RE: Competitive Adult

Dan of Jersey City, NJ US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23592

This question is in regards to two previous questions: 23558 and 23592. Both questions concern 'Advantage in the Penalty Area.'

The main controversy is whether the ref can play advantage after the defense commits an offense worthy of a penalty, and then NOT call a penalty if the advantage does not result in a goal. In particular, referee Jason Wright replied forcefully to the other questions that if the referee plays advantage in the box and the attacking team fails to score, there should be no penalty given.

However, according to my understanding, Mr. Wright is incorrect. The USSF has addressed this out in a position paper and clarified it further in a Q&A. See here:
http://www.askasoccerreferee.com/?p=1760

If my interpretation is correct, advantage in the penalty area is different from other areas of the field. Advantage can only be applied if the attacking team immediately scores a goal. If they miss a glorious chance, a penalty kick should still be called (even if this is 'two bites at the cherry.')

Penalties are some of the biggest decisions in the game, so I think it's important that everyone shares the same understanding. I would appreciate the input of others on this question.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dan
USSF has given advice to referees in the US that should be followed as per the ATR. USSF opine that advantage should not be played in the penalty area and that the referee should simply 'wait and see' without playing advantage and then award the penalty if the 'advantage' does not accrue. That only applies to referees in the US.
Outside the US the opinion is that advantage can be played and if a player, where advantage has been realised' fails to score then play cannot be brought back to the foul which is in keeping with the Laws.
Now I don't believe there is much difference between both positions as in many instances the penalty will be awarded as that is the 'best' advantage. Rarely do I see advantage been played on a penalty kick situation. However there will be situations where say a player is fouled by an opponent inside the penalty area, he stays on his feet, has full control of the ball, wants to continue and then kicks the ball wide then that should not be brought back to the original offence just because a goal has not been scored. Remember the Law does not say that the benefit of advantage has to be a goal. USSF is also saying that except that it says that formal advantage should not be signalled in the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The USSF question and answer you cite does have one perturbing line: 'In short, if a goal is not scored right away, give the penalty kick.'

But I believe the answer has to be taken in its entirety. It's not only about whether or not a goal is scored. Rather the focus is more about how long you allow play to continue after an advantage before you decide the advantage did not accrue. Taken in that light, the sentence above makes more sense. It should be interpreted to say, 'Don't give them forever to take the shot on goal and score. If nothing happens in a very short period of time, go back to the PK.'

Another question and answer (although it involves a potential obvious goal-scoring opportunity outside the penalty area) is http://www.askasoccerreferee.com/?p=2617 In that question, the ball fell very advantageously to a teammate, who managed to shoot and miss the open net. Jim Allen's answer includes, 'Life is hard. The advantage has been squandered, because the teammate was not interfered with or otherwise discomfited by a member of the opposing team.' (Love that word 'squandered').

Deciding on whether advantage materializes in the penalty area is not just about whether a goal is scored. It also involves how long you allow play to continue. More importantly, the ref has to consider whether a missed shot is because of the situation (player off balance because of the foul, teammate who receives the ball didn't expect it and doesn't really have that good of a shot, etc.). Or was the shot missed simply because of a mistake of the player, totally unrelated to the foul? As Jim is also fond of saying, the Laws of the Game are not meant to make up for the mistakes of the players.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Dan, and thanks for the feedback. I don't have much to add above what Ref Voshol has covered, except to highlight that one of the biggest differences with advantage in the penalty area is that a penalty kick is far more advantageous than a normal direct free kick, and this is something that referees need to keep in mind in determining whether to apply advantage, or even to hold the whistle a moment to see if the attacker somehow manages to slot the ball through a crowded penalty area.

Actual advantage (rather than delaying the whistle a moment) should be used very sparingly; I would only consider it if there's an obvious goalscoring opportunity and the attacker is unpressured, in a good position with full control of the ball.

Otherwise, make the decision early. Of course there's always the risk that the player will manage to slot the ball into the goal a moment after you've blown the whistle; with experience and careful consideration of each scenario you can reduce the chance of this occurring.