Question Number: 31423

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/4/2017

RE: Competitive Under 19

Dave Bermingham of Herndon, Virginia United States asks...

In watching a professional match I saw something I'd never seen before.
A Blue defender went down injured in his Penalty Area during a Red corner kick. Blue cleared the ball to the center circle where Red gained uncontested possession as the Referee halted play to deal with the injury (non-foul).
So, traditionally Blue would take the drop ball, Kick it to the Red Keeper and play would resume from the back. Easy-peasy.
This is what's happening on the pitch, until a Blue player (we'll call him Kevin) decides instead to immediately start an attack since Red had backed off 10 yards on the presumption of good sportsmanship and tradition. Needless to say, Blue Kevin took about three touches and was crushed by three incensed Red defenders. Yellow card to the Red left back (let's call him Ashley) for the foul.
As a Player/Coach/Ref I wouldn't want to see anything like that in my game. It's a blatant lie for Blue to tell the opponent one thing and then, once space has been given to enable that, use the space to attack. However, as much as I want it to be Unsporting Behavior, I don't think it violates any actual Law.
Any thoughts from the panel on how to man manage such a situation?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Dave,
A referee stoppage for an injury is indeed drop ball from where the ball is.
So the drop ball at centre is open to anyone who wishes to participate.
It is usually unwise to assume most anything.
The historical precedence of each team honouring an unspoken code to give up ball possession on an unwritten principle of fair play has created more than its share of controversy.
The LOTG actually were rewritten to NOT allow a goal to be scored from a direct drop ball restart. This was due to when the player taking the uncontested drop TRIED to do the fair thing and return the ball back towards the opposing goal it was thrown in or kicked too hard or high or bounced funny and the keeper misjudges the ball flight and the ball winds up inside the netted area between the posts under the crossbar over the goal line with everyone looking stunned. Referee having no choice but to allow the goal as nothing illegal had occurred. Now it becomes a goal kick however THAT assumes the ball went INTO the goal UNTOUCHED by any other player, not mishandled.

Now a referee might be able to manufacture something trifling or doubtful into a reason for a new restart. Ok the throw in was incorrectly taken or the player kicked the ball before it struck the ground as an opinion it cannot be disputed so he can stretch the LOTG in the best interests of the match, however, he does not have the power to arbitrarily make stuff up.

Even under the old LOTG the team being scored upon off a freak drop ball return were afforded an opportunity by SOME teams to score an uncontested even up goal as their way of righting a wrong. The problem is away goals are looked at differently and as such another reason the LOTG on drop balls were rewritten.

It is true the LOTG do not permit verbal deception so IF indeed it was publically announced or the player indicated the ball would be returned directly. The referee realizing the player was trying to score after more than a direct touch a quick whistle where we can redo with more participants after cautioning the USB action. Interesting if we can award an INDFK as the reason we are stopping is to show a card but that USB, did it occur before or after the restart?
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dave
One of the unwanted and unintended consequences of the uncontested Fair Play dropped ball restart.
Over the years there have been a number of such unsavoury incidents in the game. A cursory search of the web will show some mass brawls as a result of this type of action.
Here are some examples
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uWm9e7U0pRo
At 2.05 Luiz Adriano of then Shaktar Donetsk prompted widespread condemnation after scoring one of the most controversial goals the European Champions League had seen after an injury to an opponent. He can be seen running on to an uncontested kick back to the opponents FC Nordsjaelland. The goal was allowed and Shaktar would not allow an uncontested goal from the kick off. Adriano was subsequently suspended, heavily fined and compelled to do so some community soccer service for his actions.
Another goal in there involving Arsenal and Sunderland resulted in Arsenal offering a replay which was accepted.
Now that Adriano decision by UEFA makes me opine that referees in Europe should now prevent such behaviour. For me depending on the circumstances I would stop the game. If it was deliberate unsporting behaviour by the player verbally informing opponents that he is going to give it back and then does not then that for me is a caution and an IDFK restart. If if it a lack of communication I would simply stop play and restart it again with a dropped ball. Now there are accidents in there with the DB being kicked back going directly into the goal. That is now a goal kick so there is no need to intervene other than what the law prescribes.
One way or another I would not allow this behaviour in the game and use the referees powers to prevent it. The referee could as I have already mentioned take disciplinary action or stop the game to check the ball, thought the injured player had not left the FOP, returned too early without a signal, an assistant was not ready or whatever other reason he deems appropriate.
Before the law change on the DB direct goal I disallowed such a goal on the basis that I made an *error* in dropping the ball from the *wrong* location. I want with a second DB and there was no issue in the game.
Do what is best for the game.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Dave,
Interesting scenario. Referees cannot manufacture a sporting outcome at drop ball restart - but did this player say he was going to return the ball?

We can't force a sporting restart, but if a player has said he's going to return it to the opponents, they stand back then he doesn't - that verbal deception is clearly unsporting so you would award an IFK and a yellow card.

But if he didn't say anything and the opposing team just made an assumption, then that's their own tough luck.