Question Number: 31401

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/28/2017

RE: REC Adult

Russell of Sydney, Australia asks...

Have just been watching tonight WC qualifier between Australia and UAE (2:0 to the Socceroo's), and at one point in the second period, a second ball made its way onto the pitch follow the throw-in and made me think of something that I have never seen happen, but wonder what if...

The ball rolled in the FOP by about 15-20 meters, near the mid line, however, play had moved up field for an Australia attack and so nobody was interested in kicking it clear.

It made me think, what would the call be if an attacker from the defending team (seeing his team under serious goal threat) was to kick the second ball deliberately back towards the actual play, as a deliberate ploy to possibly have play stop due to interference from the second ball.

And, if the ball did interfere, and the match officials see that the ball was deliberately kicked by the defending team - what would the restart be? A drop ball from where it interfered, or, an IDFK to the attacking team for the unsporting behaviour by the defending team player (and a yellow for good measure).

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell
The decision once the referee deems it deliberate is a caution for USB and an IDFK from where the offender took place . If the player threw the ball hitting the other ball the restart would be a direct free kick. My colleague Referee Grove has posted the video of the incident. It shows the importance of knowing the laws or perhaps heading off the situation by stopping play before it becomes a problem.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Russell,
The beautiful thing about 'Unsporting Behaviour' is that it's sufficiently vague to cover scenarios that the lawmakers could not possible have envisioned.

Using an external object to interfere with play is a serious action and grossly against the spirit of the game - I'm sure nobody could imagine that. In a case like this where play has been interfered with (play must be stopped here, one way or another) through a seriously unsporting action, we can use our understanding of the spirit of the game to determine that USB applies. So stop play, caution the attacker, and because you're stopping play to caution the player (but it isn't an offence against an opponent) it's an IFK from where the player was.

If, on the other hand, the player picked up the ball and threw it, then that becomes an extension of the hand, so it's a DFK where it made contact with the other ball for deliberate handling - or a PK if applicable.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Russell,
Like you, I have never seen this happen but if it did, the correct procedure would be as my colleagues have already outlined.

Interestingly enough though, the alternative scenario of a player picking up the extra ball and throwing it at the match ball definitely has happened at least once that I know of. It was a couple of years ago now, in a Turkish league match and unfortunately the referee made a bit of a mess of the decision as according to reports he failed to award a penalty (the offence took place in the penalty area) and restarted with a dropped ball although he did at least caution the player.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeXJX3vBjKk