Question Number: 29637

Law 18 - Common Sense 8/27/2015

RE: Competitive Adult

Jack Smith of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29634

I can propose an example where two simultaneous cautionable offences are committed by the same player.

A player, who is in the process of making a promising attack, is recklessly kicked by an opponent and advantage is unable to be played. The opponent is guilty of unsporting behaviour for committing an offence for the purpose of breaking up a promising attack, and also simultaneously guilty of unsporting behaviour for committing one of the first seven direct free kick offences in a reckless manner.

In my experience however, most referees would just caution for unsporting behaviour for the reckless kick and ignore the fact that a promising attack was broken up.

Would cautioning the player twice and hence sending them off ever be justifiable here?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jack
a tactical or professional foul is the same as a reckless foul in its origin is stop the opponent in more than just a careless fashion but not broach the excessive aspect. If the action is excessive it is a direct red for SFP! No need to go to the double caution . So two cautions for a reckless trip into a good attack being thwarted is too heavy handed but if it denied a goal or was excessive in the force used, it upgrades to SFP and send off. In my opinion, cautions are by nature a warning to slow down so we do not have to send off, so finding reason to show two to send off is not really what they were designed for
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jack
Im afraid not. This is one offences and the referee must caution here for unsporting behaviour

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Jack,

Usually when a player trips an opponent, they've both kicked and tripped the opponent. So would you give them 2 yellow cards?

An offence may fit into several categories within the laws of the game, but that doesn't mean the player has committed multiple cautionable offences. As the referee, you need to decide which offence you want to consider it (although often it doesn't really matter). You can't say 'well, I can see at least 2 spots in the LOTG that your offence falls under, so I'll book you for both'. The player has still only committed one offence, there's just a few different ways to interpret it.