Question Number: 27292

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/6/2013

RE: competitive Under 17

aw of ridgefield, ct usa asks...

What is the proper way to deal with the situation in the accompanying link where the defender was sent off. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/brazilian-player-gets-six-match-ban-entering-pitch-010952864--sow.html
I would think that the player who was off the field would first be cautioned for re-entering without referee permission, then given a second yellow for UB (although he did deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity, he did so by heading the ball, not by handling or a punishable foul, so there is no sending off for DOGSO). His two cautions earned him the red. Should not the restart then been an indirect kick at the spot of the first infraction, which was entering at the end line? Since he entered within the goalie area, the ball should have been placed to the right of the goal on the 6 yard line. Why did the referee restart at the penalty mark? Plus, the referee let defenders run forward before the kick. Although I love my fellow refs, I think this decision was botched up. Always thank you for your entertaining and informative answers.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi AW
Interesting scenario.
I understand from media reports that the referee in fact cautioned the player for entering the FOP without permission and as he was previously cautioned for delaying the restart of play he was dismissed for receiving a 2nd caution. The suspension is a matter for the competition organisers based on factors such as previous record, type of offence, etc
Now in my opinion this is not a sending off offence in its own right as it does not fit the denying an obvious goal criteria. The player has re-entered the field of play without permission which is a cautionable offence. As the player played the ball in a legal way then I can't see a second caution offence which would send the player off. Some suggest that as it was unsporting that a 2nd caution could be issued for "acts in a manner which shows a lack of respect for the game". For me though the law has to act across all scenarios not just one. Would the player be sent off if he did this at half way by intercepting the ball on a promising attack?
Former Q&As suggested that it was a caution only with an IDFK restart on the 'warming up substitute scenario'. USSF advice was that it believed that a referee could issue the 2nd caution by looking for another cautionable offence such as a tactical foul but fell short of a 'must' instruction or a straight red card dismissal. It opined that prevention should be the referees priority and that players / substitutes should not be allowed to be in those locations.
As regards the restart the game is restarted with an IDFK from where the ball was when play was stopped. In this scenario, play would have been stopped when the player headed the ball so the IDFK should have been taken on the 6 yard line with all defending players on the goal line. If the referee chose to start it on the penalty mark he may have been unsure of the correct location.
As regards the management of the defensive wall I would say that it was poor with the defenders no more than 6 yards from the ball. He should have moved the defenders back before allowing the kick or failing that ordered a retake plus a caution.
Another interesting element here was whether the red player was offside when the ball was played by his team mate? The goalkeeper is not part of the 2nd last opponent calculation. The interesting point is whether the player making the illegal re-entry could be calculated in the offside decision?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Very unusual scenario. First, I believe the Red player that received the ball from his teammate was in an offside position. The illegal person on the field is not considered in the offside equation.

Yes, referees should keep people from behind the goals, but they didn't and this dimwit absolutely denied a goal by his actions. I'm not sure I buy a no DOGSO because he headed the ball. It's been established that misconduct can result in a DOGSO and this is misconduct.

I'm sending this guy off regardless. Caution/yellow for entering without permission. Caution/yellow/red for USB and second caution. What could be more unsporting than a person running illegally onto the field and denying a certain goal?

The referee mucked up the restart. Should have been on the six with the wall on the goal line. As it was, there were opponents 4 yards or less charging the kick and one of them kicked the ball. Caution retake

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

See Question: 27315