Question Number: 32283

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/5/2018

RE: Barca fan Under 15

Rupert Handley of Perth, Western Australia Australia asks...

Lets just say that, for whatever reason, you take a dive in your own penalty box. Would it be a penalty or an indirect freekick?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Rupert,
If a player were to commit an act of simulation in their own penalty area it need not necessarily lead to a kick of any sort. In such a scenario the referee could choose to let play continue (if the simulation did not really affect play or if there were an advantage to the opponents, for example) and caution the player at the next stoppage in play. If the referee were to stop play to issue the caution, play would restart with an indirect free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Rupert,

Taking a dive isn't a foul. Rather, there's a clause in the law which says that when play is stopped to issue a card for a reason that isn't otherwise listed as a FK, then play restarts with an indirect free kick. Diving falls into that category, so the restart is always an indirect free kick and a card must be issued.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rupert
Diving or to give the actions its proper title is simulation. Simulation is punished by a caution for unsporting behaviour and as the game has been stopped to issue a yellow card the restart is an indirect free kick from where the offence took place.
Simulation is committed mainly by attackers who try to deceive referees into awarding penalty kicks or attacking free kicks in favourable area. It is not confined to that yet rarely do we see defenders committing the offence.
An IDFK can be awarded inside the oenalty area to the attacking team should a defender be cautioned for the offence.