Question Number: 30950

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/24/2016

RE: varsity Adult

bob terranova of Tenafly, new jersey usa asks...

What is the restart if a foul (or misconduct) is committed in the penalty box against an attacking team player not in possession of (or near)the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Bob,

It depends on two things - was the ball still in play and what was the level of the foul or misconduct? If the ball is still in play (no matter how far away it is) and if the offence is one that would be punishable by a direct free kick if it were outside the penalty area, then this would result in a penalty kick. I can hardly think of any ''off-the-ball'' fouls or offences committed against an opponent that would not be direct free kick offences (verbally distracting, perhaps?) so in a scenario such as you describe the end result would almost certainly be a penalty, assuming the ball is still in play when it happened.

If misconduct were to occur with the ball out of play then the restart would be consistent with the reason for which play was stopped. Depending on the level of the misconduct, the player committing it could be cautioned or sent off but this would not alter the restart.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Bob,
A player who commits a foul or misconduct while the match is currently active with the ball on the field of play is punished per the nature of that action.
FIFA QUOTE.
Restart of play after fouls and misconduct
• If the ball is out of play, play is restarted according to the previous decision
•  If the ball is in play and a player commits an offence inside the field of play against:  
•an opponent – indirect or direct free kick or penalty kick  
• a team-mate, substitute, substituted player, team official or a match official – a direct free kick or penalty kick 
• any other person – a dropped ball

Under the new LOTG if that illegal action was directed against the officials and team official and team mates it is considered as a DFK thus a PK. Given it is NOT a challenge for ball possession chances are it will be considered as an act of misconduct . The player is shown the yellow card and cautioned for USB or shown the red card and sent off for Violent conduct

If the player commits a PENAL foul inside his OWN penalty area against the opponent for which the referee stops active play the only possible restart outcome is a PK .
If the player commits a NON penal foul like impeding inside his OWN penalty area against the opponent, the only possible restart is an INDFK taken from the point of the infringement subject to the special circumstances within the goal area(move ball straight back to edge of goal area)
Not all match stoppages involve a foul of physical contact even a verbal comment that is deceitful, abusive, foul or racist can be sufficient. It is good that FIFA has made illegal actions directed at match officials, team officials and team mates a DFK restart just not sure they why they feel a player can punch a fan on the pitch and get only a drop ball, given the act is likely a send of for VC no matter who is punched. Runaway fans on the pitch I guess they are more of a pain! lol Cheers<

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bob
If we assume in your question that the ball is in play and a defender / goalkeeper commits one of the penal fouls against an opponent that is kicks, strikes, charges etc inside the penalty area the restart is a penalty kick. It makes no difference where the ball is as long as it is in play.
Lets say that the ball is played out towards half way and a tardy attacker is coming out of the penalty area. The goalkeeper has taken exception to something previous in the game and he kicks the attacker violently inside the penalty area. The incident is seen by the referee or his assistant. The goalkeeper is dismissed for violent conduct and the restart is a penalty kick.
Also Law 12 has recently been updated in that if the ball is in play and a player commits an offence inside the field of play against a team-mate, substitute, substituted player, team official or a match official – a direct free kick or penalty kick is awarded. In the past it was an IDFK when it was not an opponent. The DFK or penalty kick punishment now for an offence against another participant in the game reflects the seriousness of such an action e.g. football sends out a weak/poor message if the sanction is only an indirect free kick restart.