Question Number: 26347

Law 5 - The Referee 5/17/2012

RE: Rec Under 18

Larry of Newburgh, NY Orange asks...

Concerning the advantage call...Blue player is running along the touch line toward the Red goal line. 30 yds from the goal line, a Red defendeer runnning alongside the Blue player tries to tackle the Blue player. He misses the ball,but the action causes the Blue player to stumble a little before continuing on to cross the ball toward the Red goal where it is plucked from the air by the keeper.

Is the attempted trip deserving of an advantage call or a no call? Could it be considered an attempt to trip and so be treated as a foul? I have been shouting advantage for these plays but recently another Ref says there is nothing there so why am I calling for an advantage! Any comments?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Larry
When a foul has been committed the referee allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage.
Now the question the referee has to ask is whether there is a foul in the 1st place. Only the referee can make that call and there will be times when there is a 'trifling' foul that has little or no effect on play in which case signalling advantage is not required nor is it advisable. Only signal advantage on clear breaches of the Law.
As you know an attempt to trip is a foul so if a referee believes that the attempt caused the attacker to stumble effecting the play then it is a foul. If the referee believe that allowing the player to continue through the use of advantage then it is correct to do so. Where a referee can get into difficulties on this is where the foul is trifling and the advantage has been realised but the player then wastes the opportunity by giving the ball away. The team can then complain that advantage has not materialised and it looks for the free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Advantage is played when there is a foul and the referee believes the fouled team would be better off if play did not stop.

If there is no foul or is only a trifling foul, you do not invoke advantage - no signal, no shout-out of 'Play On' or 'Advantage'. You may wish to say something or make some motion so the players know you saw the action - 'Not a foul.' Some refs say 'Nothing', but I avoid that - there was something there, or you wouldn't be addressing it.

Attempting to trip is a foul, so you can invoke advantage. However in most cases when the attempt fails, the foul if any is trifling and you wouldn't need to call or signal anything.

When you see trifling fouls, it is sometimes a benefit have a quiet word with the fouled party - 'I see what's going on down there in the corner. You're working through it. If he ever does get you, I'll call the foul.' This can diffuse bad feelings that may arise.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I'd add that in your scenario, even if you decide the trip was a foul, where's the advantage? You said the ball was crossed toward the goal and was plucked by the opposing keeper.

When we think of advantage we think of the opportunity to mount or continue an attack or a shot on goal.

None of that happened here. Bring the ball back and give the free kick although from your description, it's doubtful there was a foul in the first place

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