Question Number: 32046

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/23/2017

RE: Adult

Peter of totnes, DEVON United Kingdom asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32044

Thank you for your responses! They certainly address the issue. I'm wondering whether there is any specific clause in the rule book that applies to this situation: Would the referee be strictly obliged to award a free kick due to no advantage accruing? Or, once the advantage has been signalled, if the fouled team fail to take advantage then it's hard luck - sorry, you have to play on.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
The Laws of the Game state and I quote
** allows play to continue when an offence occurs and the non-offending team
will benefit from the advantage and penalises the offence if the anticipated
advantage does not ensue at that time or within a few seconds**

It is left to the referee to decide if the anticipated advantage does not ensue and the time taken.
I have seen plenty of players over the years give up on playing when in my opinion they would have been better to have continued playing. As advantage did not nor could not arise the fouls were called. That probably points to the situation where a referee cannot really enforce advantage if the team does not want it to take it.
Having said that in recent Ireland V Denmark game a Danish player was fouled inside the penalty area, the ball made its way to another Danish player who took a shot which brought out a great save from the Irish goalkeeper. The referee did not play advantage yet just waited a second or so before making the call of a penalty kick award. Some might opine that the advantage was taken and realised while others felt that there was no advantage played hence the penalty award was totally justified. I doubt whether any Danish player would stop playing based on the fact that there was a foul on a team mate and a penalty award in the offing.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Peter,

NOT exactly , as the way in which advantage is applied . For example I yell ADVANTAGE! and signal advantage using the arm sweep. This indicates YES I saw the foul but I think it is better to keep going. ONCE I am satisfied that the advantage HAS occurred, the attack is on, the shot taken I drop the arms and cry PLAY ON! This is in that 3 to 5 seconds of deciding time where I observe what occurs. If the team stops, if there is an offside, if they quickly lose possession due to pressure or they stumble , or a players pick the ball up looking bewildered then there is no advantage we sigh and likely award the free kick. YET if the player simply had to kick the ball into the open goal for the advantage to be realized but stood there and tried to argue for a free kick until the keeper came over to grab it we might just say, Seriously!

WE can do the exact same thing in not saying anything just delaying the whistle to await an outcome. We generally reserve this for in and around the penalty area as it takes away our judgement if we were to signal and shout out for any kind of an attempt is made given a PK is a very good opportunity and that advantage better match up to it!
Cheers