Question Number: 32124

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/23/2017

RE: Rec & Select Under 19

Steve of Mill Valley, CA United States ofAmerica asks...

In the December 2017 Classico, Carvahal was sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity with his hand, resulting in a penalty. IF Barcelona has scored during the melee immediately after Carvahals foul, should the referee still produce the red card?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
Had the referee played advantage the goal could have been awarded and as nothing then had been denied the player would not have been sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity. Instead the player could have been cautioned for unsporting behaviour.
These type of situation happen from time to time and referees are eager to call the penalty early to *sell* the decision. With hindsight the referee should have delayed the whistle and then made the call.
Here is a UEFA referee explaining such a decision of acting too hastily.

http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/video/referees/videoid=746585.html?redirectFromOrg=true&autoplay=true

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Steve,
In fact the ball did cross the line almost immediately subsequent to the deliberate handball. If the referee had delayed whistling for the handling offence and awarded the goal instead, no red card would have been necessary. If a goal is scored, then it has not been denied so the player cannot be sent off for denying a goal by handling.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 32131