Question Number: 30397

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/9/2016

RE: select Under 17

George Lippert of Pittsburgh, Pa USA asks...

Two questions about fouls in the penalty area:

1. Blue attacker enters the penalty area and is fouled as he passes ball to team mate. Team mate shots wide of the goal. Do we give a penalty for the initial foul or do we consider this an advantage situation? So is the restart a PK or goal kick?
2. Blue attacker enters the penalty area is fouled by defender as he takes the shot. Ball is saved by keeper. Again PK or punt by keeper?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi George
The answer depend on whether advantage was realised or not. The referee can also delay making a decision and award the free kick if he believes that no advantage was available or realised.
I think that in both instances that the foul is the more likely best decision.
Now we have all seen instances where the foul is not awarded in these situations as either it was a coming together after the ball was played or it is doubtful / trifling. If Im drawn to the foul rather than the play on goal then I am calling it unless a goal is scored. The player can still be cautioned for USB even if the goal is scored.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

We are told to apply a 'silent advantage' when there is a foul in the penalty area. That means to wait a moment or two to see what happens. If the goal is scored, good, everybody is happy - and at least have a word with the perpetrator (consider misconduct if it was a bad foul). If a goal is not scored, you go back to calling the foul. However if the only reason a goal is not scored is because a player absolutely screwed up the advantage situation, then you wouldn't go back to the foul.

Answer provided by Referee James Sowa

George,

The simple answer is that it depends.

1) In this scenario, it is going to depend on the quality of the chance generated by the pass. If the attacker who receives the pass is 15 yards from goal still has the keeper and defenders in front of him, likely not a great advantage. If he is on the six yard line and shanks it wide... likely the advantage was squandered. My rule of thumb here would be to look at which opportunity is better, the PK or the attempted shot. If it is the PK, then the decision really must be made before the shot is taken as it looks really bad to have the shot missed and THEN the whistle blows. It seems like you are giving the attackers two bites at the apple.

2) In this scenario, it will almost always be a PK unless the ball ends up in the net. If the contact is deemed a foul, then it interrupted the attackers shot and must be called as the defender illegally gained an advantage. Also something to keep in the back of your mind. If not for the contact by the defender, was this an obvious goal scoring opportunity?