Question Number: 27591

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/10/2013

RE: Competeive and recreational Adult

Doug Anderson of Orillia, , Ontario Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 27584

OK - where there is an offside before the conduct, it seems easy enough to reverse a decision before the restart; that conduct came after the offside occured and doesn't count to result in a penalty (a kick). But what about misconduct: Behaviour worthy of a caution (show yellow card) or dismissal (show red card) that comes after the offside?

My opinion is that the referee does not change his or her mind on misconduct.

Penalties come during active play and an offside means the play should have been stopped; so the handling the ball or kick to player does not 'register' and we go back to the offside and sanction that (indirect free kick). The referee 'cancels' the penalty because the offside intervened.

But misconduct can happen outside active play (dissent or unsporting behaviour, for example) and there is no reason to ignore that behaviour just because an offside intervened. The restart remain the indirect free kick, but the card stands.

Right?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Two related notions.

First, misconduct that occurs after the referee has stopped play is still punishable. Even if the referee determines to change a decision before restarting play. Retaliation is misconduct even if the retaliation is for an earlier foul or taunt.

Second, if a player dissents that the referee erred in making the original decision and the referee ultimately concludes that the player was correct, the referee may be wise to privately warn the player rather than publicly caution for dissent. But, the referee does not have to ignore misconduct. Indeed, in the right circumstances (offensive, abusive language or gestures), must send off the player. Some conduct is always unacceptable even though the referee understands what triggered it.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Doug
Yes although the referee has to consider the merits of the misconduct in its own right.
For example on a missed offside flag and a defender then handles the ball to prevent a goal would not result in a sending off or a caution. On the other hand a heavy challenge that is reckless would merit a caution even though the restart is an IDFK for the original offside.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Right. Anything that happens after play has stopped may only be punished as misconduct. The important thing here is to decide if whatever action took place merited misconduct punishment