Question Number: 28743

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/17/2014

RE: competitive High School

Pascal of medford, ma middlesex asks...

Foul occurs, ref blows whistle to indicate the reckless foul and issue the caution/yellow card, but the attacking player puts the ball down and plays on (quick start).

Mechanic by ref: blows whistle, shows player yellow card, and at the same time the attacking player does a quick start.

I feel all was okay with the quick start, and I just followed up with discussing the card to the player at the next stoppage.

Was this right or should I have stopped play, written up the card and then allowed the restart...

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Pascal,
in my opinion this needed to be a ceremonial restart! As the referee, you have definitely interfered in the match in gathering the attention of the players especially the defender you are attempting to show the card to. If the attacking players are keen to take the restate quickly you could forgo the caution .Risky that, the truth is if you allow the quick restart, you can not caution the player. In point of fact USA high school has a stop the clock procedure and a ten minute sin bin for a caution attached to it.

Mechanic by ref if this was a FIFA match : blows whistle to indicate the foul, hard whistle to send a strong message, referee should be hard to the spot of the infraction, given the reckless nature of the foul and indicate to all this is a ceremonial restart by getting eye contact with those nearby the ball by pointing to the whistle then say, Nothing happens until I blow the whistle guys!, then isolate, record and caution show the yellow card to reckless player if it his 2nd caution of the match then show the red card and send off reducing them by a player. Make sure the ARs/4th are eye contacted and can also record the caution. Set proper ball placement and the wall. signal restart to begin watch for encroachment. ARs can help with this depending on restart location,
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Pascal
Once the referee stops play to issue a caution the restart is on the whistle. So in this case the player's details will have been recorded, the card shown and the player asked to leave the FOP with a substitute allowed to enter so the QFK is not then possible. The clock has also to be stopped and restsrted in a NFHS game.
In a USSF game the details will have been recorded and the card shown before the referee allows play to restart which will be on the whistle again as a ceremonial restart.
I have in the past had to allow players to 'escape' a caution because of a team's desire for the QFK which I felt if not allowed would have punished the fouled against team. I also recall last season in a Liverpool game where Suarez was fouled, he landed on the ball, jumped up and then took a QFK to a team mate in an extremely beneficial attacking position. The referee brought play back so that the caution could be issued much to the chagrin of Liverpool. The referee had to explain to the captain the reason for not allowing the QFK. IMO the better decision was to allow the QFK and pass on the caution.
If the card is not shown before the restart it cannot be shown after play has resumed with the free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Pascal,
There cannot be a quick start when you blow the whistle to give a caution in high school, because as soon as you blow the whistle, you also have to stop the clock. (Rule 7-4-1). You then hold the card over your head, indicate the player that is being card, and notify both coaches, the scorer and the other officials of the nature of the misconduct (Rule 5-3-1e). You would then make certain that the cautioned player has departed the field and allow any substitutes to enter. You would then have the ball placed at the spot of the foul. The game can only be restarted when you blow the whistle again as a second whistle is required when a caution is given. (9-1-3). What you forgot to do, is stop the clock when you blew the whistle.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

If you have shown a card, the restart is always on the whistle. It is required under TLOG.
It is also required and is perhaps more critical in high school (NFHS) matches because the cautioned player must leave the field (and may be substituted). The referee needs to allow the substituted player to enter the field and get in position before allowing play to continue.

The opportunity for a quick restart might be a factor for the referee to decide not to issue a caution, but once a player has been cautioned the kicking team loses any ability to do a quick free kick. Conversely, if the referee allows play to restart, the referee no longer has the power to caution the player at the next stoppage in play. The referee needs to weigh the two alternative options. In most cases, the referee will decide that the caution is the best alternatives IMO.

Finally, some referees become concerned about stopping play late in a game when the losing team is fouled and the opponents have committed misconduct (such as a tactical foul). While the referee can add time under TLOG, high school rules makes this an easier call. The clock is stopped whenever a caution is shown, and the clock does not restart until the ball is put into play (after the referee's whistle).