Question Number: 27241

Law 5 - The Referee 3/13/2013

RE: Adult

Pedro of Atlanta, GA USA asks...

A player with two yellow cards scores a goal, but before the restart (kick off) the referee was asked to check his book. He finds that the player does have two yellow cards... does the goal count? Is the player send off?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Pedro
Yes the player is dismissed for receiving two cautions. As play has not restarted the goal is disallowed. The Law is mute on the correct restart which can be a goal kick to the defending team as per USSF advice or if outside the US an IDFK inside the goal area can be used.
Some would suggest that as an 'error' was made by the referee plus the player was technically an 'outside agent', the restart should be a dropped ball in the goal area after the player is dismissed although in my opinion the player also has a responsibility in this matter.
My advice is to go with the kicked restart as the 'best' restart as the dropped ball can cause all sorts of problems for the referee in what could be a 'heated' situation. The matter should be reported to the appropriate authority in the match report.
Even better advice is to ensure that it does not happen in the 1st place.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Since play has not restarted, the goal is waived off and the player is sent off and shown the red card.

Here in Atlanta, the restart is a goal kick.