Question Number: 29771

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/2/2015

RE: Competitive Under 12

Chris B of Elk River, MN USA asks...

What happens if a player is fouled in the Penalty Area while shooting but manages to score on the shot before the foul is called? Can the attacking team just take the goal and forego the PK? Or does the whistle stop action retroactively to the moment the fouls occurred and the goal is called back and they must take the PK instead?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Chris
Advantage can and should be played with the goal awarded. There is no guarantee that the penalty kick will be scored so best to award the goal. Disciplinary action can still be taken for the foul.
As Referee Voshol points out the scoring team cannot decide to NOT take the goal. Once the ball crosses the goal line and the scoring team has not infringed the Laws and play was not stopped then a goal must be awarded.
It is for this reason that referees are asked to delay the whistle with a wait and see approach inside the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Chris,
the observant referee when he is witnessing hanky-panky against the opposition in the defending penalty area will often ...DELAY... the whistle to ...AWAIT... an outcome, before signalling to all by blowing the whistle that he has decided to STOP play. This proper application of advantage is not usually accompanied with the traditional arms outstretched and the verbal advantage play on! Instead it is more of a ...wait and see... if the ball manages to find the back of the net, rather than a too quick whistle for the foul! It just looks bad as the ball continues its journey into the back of the goal but is now no longer valid because you STOPPED play too soon! Play is definitely over once you blow and signal, you cannot undo it and say well the ball was going into the goal so I will count it! Plenty of referees have chided themselves for being over eager on a quick whistle. He gets the evil eye from both teams, denying the goal forces the PK which might miss and the defenders will often get a player sent off for DOGSO if it fits the criteria as met in the foul!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The team doesn't get to decide to take the goal - it's not like declining a penalty in Pointy-ball.

Instead, as my colleagues have indicated, the referee should wait to see the outcome and apply advantage if the goal is immediately scored despite the foul. If the ref is too quick and blows the whistle too soon, we are stuck with the penalty kick.

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

See Question: 29775

See Question: 29776