Question Number: 26359

Law 5 - The Referee 5/19/2012

RE: Rec/Select/Competetive Under 17

Tom S of Lincoln, MA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26326

Can a team 'refuse' the advantage and 'ask' for the kick and, in this case, the send off?
I am wondering if a fould is committed in the midfield, and either the player is slightly hurt or just does not want the advantage played, could they kick it out or pass it to the opposition and in such a way ask for the free kick. Especially if the ref has shouted 'play on' ? Or is this their squandering of the given opportunity?

In the penalty area, if they just stop playing - no dive - could that be their way of choosing the kick?

thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tom
Generally teams use advantage when it is afforded to them. However if a team does not want the advantage usually the player just stops playing in which case the referee can deem that advantage has not been realised and he then awards the free kick.
If the player kicks the ball away or passes it to the opponents the referee can deem that the advantage was squandered and play continues.
On a penalty kick the player if he stops playing and there is a foul the penalty kick will be awarded. The difficulty for the team is that if the foul is not awarded then player may have squandered possession on the assumption that there was a foul and it will be called.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

No. But, the referee has two to three seconds to watch what happens, and call the foul if the advantage is not realized. An observant referee will note the players' reactions. The fouled player who stops, turns to the referee, and glares is giving a strong indication that the foul can be called since there won't be any advantage being realized. The players' disgust, however, sometimes turns to joy when they see what the referee anticipated -- - a teammate has just scored.