Question Number: 30171

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/4/2016

RE: Club Under 15

Derek of Cary, IL USA asks...

Red attacker is on a breakaway, has the ball and is dribbling into the penalty area. Blue sweeper runs toward red player to challenge, but misses the ball and trips the red attacker. Red player gets up, but does not play the ball and instead appeals for the foul. Only the goalkeeper is between the ball and the goal.
The referee saw advantage and shouted 'play on' as the attacker got up. As stated, the red player did not want the advantage and instead wanted the foul to be called. The foul fits the DOGSO criteria.

Would you stop play for the foul, knowing the red attacker could have easily taken a shot on goal?

Throwing in a curveball, if you believe that the red player gave up the advantage in order to have the blue sweeper sent off, would that change anything?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Derek
Interesting question. The first part to remember is that Blue has committed a foul. There is no onus on Red to continue to play when fouled and in many penalty situations we have the attacking team making no effort to continue to play yet rather go to ground with perhaps an exaggerated fall to ensure the actual foul is called. That now happens quite regularly.
Now what you describe is unusual and while it does happen from time to time perhaps not in such stark circumstances. I believe that the referee has no option but to call the foul as advantage has not been realised. It makes no difference whether it is a DOGSO situation or not. It is either a foul or not and if the foul is called then the referee has to evaluate what further disciplinary action should be taken. The referee might opine that the foul did not deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity if the opportunity was still there and was not denied
As a referee I might not like it and it is an example of poor sportsmanship yet it is not contrary to the laws. The risk that the player runs is that if the referee does not call the foul the chance will be squandered. In a game situation players are never 100% sure of the referees intention so without an advantage call the players will in most circumstances take chances if they can.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Derek,
If you felt strongly the DOGSO was left as dubious due to the striker giving up to pursue the obvious goal scoring shot opportunity you might not see it as a clear red/send off but award the foul! Still consider if DOGSO criteria was met at the time of the foul , the red card will most likely be required, hard to argue a send off is not a good advantage!

You can not worry about offering ADVISE that there IS an advantage possibility if he was not inclined to pursue the opportunity. As a habit, I do not call out, PLAY ON! when initiating an advantage. I either immediately signal with the arm sweep calling out ADVANTAGE or I swallow the whistle and wait and see how things go when tight in the PA!

If I use the arm sweep and shout out, 'ADVANTAGE,' I will call out, the additional 'PLAY ON!', only if the advantage is actually realized. If the advantage does does materialize to MY satisfaction, I bring the ball back to the spot of the foul without ever uttering those words PLAY ON!
Cheers