Question Number: 30507

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/13/2016

RE: College

Maxime Janbon of London, United Kingdom asks...

In a recent European Championship game, a defender committed a professional foul by holding the attacker back as he was breaking away. As the whistle went, he kicked the ball out of play in a deliberate attempt to waste time. In this situation, what is the correct decision?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Maxime
There was a more serious one than that in the game between Albania and Switzerland where a player caught an opponents shorts, the referee allows play to continue and the player then fouled the player from behind with a tackle. The referee cautioned the defender and restarted with a direct free kick from the location of the second foul. In Law the player could have been sent off for two cautions.
Here is a poor quality video of the incident.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qBTJ613-2bE
Now the same could technically have happened in your example although unlikely. The player by holding the attacker back has committed a tactical foul which is a caution. The player then kicks the ball away which can be deemed delaying the restart. Now the referee can argue that as he has to take the players details, show the yellow card with the restart being on the whistle that a quick restart is not possible so there is no real delay as the ball will be retrieved in time for the ceremonial restart.
In both instances it would also be perceived as very harsh and unexpected to dismiss for two cautions. Perhaps in the first situation of two consecutive fouls it is more likely and I have seen it happen.
Have a look at this video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RY0DD120slk
Green #6 foul Red in front of the penalty area off the ball. Referee Cakir plays advantage and then Green #6 fouls another Red player recklessly. The referee deemed both incidents to be cautions and the Green player was sent off for two cautions. While the Green team argued with the decision it was 100% correct and good refereeing. Probably somewhat easier to justify when the incidents are spaced out in time from each other. Immediate consecutive incidents many times just result in the single caution.