Question Number: 30170

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/4/2016

RE: Competitive Adult

David of Toronto, Ontario Canada asks...

Player standing inside his own Penalty Area, strikes/punches an opponent standing outside the Penalty Area. Where has the offence committed? Ie. what is the restart? DFK or PK? (Obviously red card for VC)

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi david
It is where the contact takes place not where the player that is guilty of the VC is located. In this instance the offence happened outside the penalty area so the restart is an DFK.
If the player that was struck was on the line or inside the penalty area the restart is a penalty kick. Therein poses a challenge for the referee much like the foul. Was the contact inside / on the line or outside?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi David,
a striking foul is one of the DFK fouls that occurs from the actual point of contact between the opponent and the player. If that contact point occurs INSIDE the PA then the foul is upgraded to PK status OUTSIDE the PA it remains a DFK. The PA boundary line is considered as INSIDE as part of the area it encloses. A striking foul, if the ball is being challenged CAN be adjudged as careless, reckless (show a yellow card) and excessive as a SFP show a red card for but in situations where the ball is not being challenged or the strike is considered as a punch, it is more likely to be considered as VC violent conduct and THAT is more in line with an auto red card send off reduce the team by a player type incident.

Cheers