Question Number: 27227

Mechanics 3/6/2013

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 27221

This is a follow-up to something Referee Contarino said. Why do you not give the advantage signal inside the penalty area? It's not the same as blowing the whistle, so you're not preventing anyone from scoring.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Ref Contarino is providing the USSF guidance for advantage in the penalty area.
No signal. Watch and see. If a goal is not scored immediately, then stop play and signal for the penalty kick.

In my experience, PK are very emotional events. If you give any indication of advantage, no goal is scored, and the referee calls the penalty kick, there is a strong likelihood of mass confrontation over whether advantage was realized. Saying and doing nothing eliminates that risk. Alternatively, if a goal is scored, the referee can always tell the victim of the foul that the referee saw 'it' but let the goal be scored. (The victim is usually celebrating the goal and doesn't care.)

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Events inside the penalty area happen pretty quickly and the best advice for the referee is to adopt a 'wait and see' approach.
In the US the advice is not to signal advantage. In the rest of then world it is not as prescriptive and the referee is given more latitude with the signal element. The challenge for the referee that signals advantage and it does not materialise is that he may have to deal with discontent by the defending team when play is brought back and the penalty awarded.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Short answer is: That's what the USSF tells us to do. Longer answer is it takes a second or two to give the signal anyway. Advantage is not as well understood as we would like and giving the signal opens up a world of possibilities we would rather not deal with inside the penalty area. You're right, we don't immediately blow the whistle. Doing so automatically negates any possibility of advantage and we do not want to have to disallow a goal because of a quick whistle.

Better to do nothing for a few seconds and wait and see. If no goal is scored within a few seconds, blow the whistle and award the penalty kick.