Question Number: 26194

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/16/2012

RE: Pro Adult

Paul Marin of Fort Lauderdale, Florida United States asks...

Dear Mr. Ref,

Can you clarify the unsporting conduct law for me with regard to simulation? I am not sure if you saw Ashley Young's alleged dive that lead to a penalty for Manchester United against Aston Villa yesterday, but one could argue that he was fouled first and made the most of it by going to ground theatrically and thereby guilty of simulation. Whether he went to ground theatrically or not, if you agree he was fouled, then is that a penalty or do the laws allow the ref to nullify the penalty due to his simulation?

Thanks,

PaulM

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Paul
Simulation is where a player feigns injury or foul contact in order to deceive the referee into awarding a free kick or taking disciplinary sanction against a player.
In the Young incident most believe that there was foul contact which is why the penalty was awarded. The player then exaggerated his fall I assume to ensure the referee saw the offence and then had to make a decision. It is what is called a 'soft' penalty award but nonetheless a penalty. Had there been no foul contact then the player would be guilty of simulation which is a caution and an indirect free kick restart.
If the referee believed that while there was contact but not enough to justify a foul then he could simply allow play to continue with no sanction.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

At all levels, the players have worked hard to emulate the professionals in seeking to convince the referees to call penalty kicks. In one sense, it is our fault. We allow players to work through fouls and try to score. Dropping to the ground after a foul is one way to tell the referee, please call that foul!

But, as you note, it can be very difficult to discern whether the player is diving or has been fouled. In the match you note, there is contact to one of Cole's feet (which may be a foul) but he drew his other foot into contact with the opponent (which is not a foul).

The question is easy when there is no contact (and no attempt to strike, trip, or kick) - - - play should be stopped and the diver cautioned. Similarly, if there is a clear foul, but the player embellishes the effect of the foul to deceive the referee into sending off the opponent, award the free kick, but caution the player for the embellishment. When there is some contact, the referee needs to decide whether or not the player was fouled (stopping play and awarding the penalty) or if the contact was a doubtful or trifling infringement (not stopping play).

Finally, I believe it very useful to discuss diving in the pregame. Talking about it gives your assistant referees' permission to inform you if you just called a penalty that they know was a dive. Their angle of view may be better than yours. The Game is served if the referee team gets the call right. But, if the matter isn't discussed in the pregame, the assistants may be wary of 'interfering' with your call.

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

See Question: 30104