Question Number: 31338

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/12/2017

RE: rec Under 14

gdurso of nashua, nh usa asks...

If a sent off players re-enters the field without me noticing and becomes involved in active play....I assume the correct rs is an indirect fk....what if he/she denies a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Good question
Under the updated Laws the sent off player is removed from the field of play and the restart is now a direct free kick or a penalty kick.
In your scenario as the sent off player has denied a goal the restart is a penalty kick if the interference happened inside the penalty area and a DFK if happened outside the penalty area. This is a significant change to the Laws of the Game as previously it was a dropped ball as a sent off player was treated as an outside agent. Not any longer.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi gdurso,
the recent LOTG changes now make the act a direct free kick or a PK. This was done to ensure the restart was FAIR to what had occurred! All relevant information would be included in the match report and the league would then decide upon the length of further sanctions.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi,

I agree with my colleagues. If this does happen in one of your matches you should also report this second incident.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Joe,
In this scenario, an indirect free kick would not be the correct decision. As my colleagues have pointed out, due to the recent Laws change, depending on where the offence took place it would be either a direct free kick or a penalty.