Question Number: 26697

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/28/2012

RE: Competiitve Adult

Charles Kranitzky of Mt Pleasant, South Carolina USA asks...

Can an attacking player have '2 bites of the apple'? Specifically, an attacking player dribbles into the PA and is tripped as he touches the ball forward, he almost falls but regains his balance and control of the ball all in a second or 2 at the most. The attacking player now has the ball in his control at the top of the goal area and shoots wide of the goal. This all happened in a blink of the eye. I did not even have time to call 'play on'. During the post game critique AR 1 said I should have awarded a PK because there is no advantage in the PA better than a PK. I felt under these circumstances this would be giving the attacking team 2 chances to score. Who is right?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Charles
A difficult question. If the referee is of opinion that advantage has been realised then a team has to accept the outcome of playing on. However in this situation you would have been entitled to award the penalty kick. However we have all been in these situations and an element of equity has to be applied.
In a recent game I applied advantage in what I thought was a 'stonewall' scoring opportunity after a foul in the penalty area. I did signal advantage. The attacking player then kicked it wide. I went with the goal kick and told the fouled player that they squandered the advantage which he accepted.
As a general rule it is not a good idea to play advantage in the penalty area and a wait and see approach is advisable.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The purpose of advantage is to ALLOW two bites of the apple. The referee allows play to continue to see if the advantage is realized, and then has the power to go back and call the foul if the advantage is not realized.

As Ref McHugh's answer illustrates, it can be difficult to determine if the advantage WAS realized even though a goal has not been scored.

US Soccer recommends an adjustment to the normal referee mechanic for fouls by defenders inside their penalty area. The referee should say and signal nothing. Simply wait and see. If a goal is not scored immediately, blow the whistle and call for the penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Awarding the advantage in such a situation is not announced even if given, and if the player then doesn't use the advantage, as in your example by kicking it wide of the goal, then the chance to do something with the ball was the advantage. If he fails, then that doesn't change the use of advantage.

On the other hand, if the advantage is given, but it is clear the advantage given either doesn't develop or can't be used -i.e. the chance has evaporated, or the kick that went wide was because the fouled player was now off balance, the original offense should be called.

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

See Question: 26714