Question Number: 32396

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/22/2018

RE: Competitive Under 15

John Nagel of Wilmette, IL USA asks...

I was CR, and had the following situation. An attacking player was fouled just outside the top corner of the penalty area by the last defender. I decided that the foul was careless (not reckless or with excessive force). I was comfortable that it was not a DOGSO because of the angle of attack. Even though the foul clearly did interfere with what would have been a promising attack, I did not give the defender a yellow card because I was confident that the defender was genuinely trying to play the ball and was thus not in my view guilty of unsporting behavior. As a CR, in this situation, under the letter and spirit of law 12, should I give a yellow whenever a foul interferes with a promising attack, even if I am pretty confident that the foul was not cynical in any way?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi John,
In the situation you describe, had the foul been inside the area and a penalty kick awarded for a genuine but careless attempt to play the ball there would be no yellow card.

However as the foul occurred outside the penalty area a caution for stopping a promising attack would be called for. When the foul is outside the area, the fact that it was an attempt to play the ball is not enough to obviate the requirement for a yellow card if the referee judges that a promising attack was prevented by the foul.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI John,
Based on your description everything sounds in line within the written text & spirit of LOTG. BUT?
It is an opinion if the act was reckless in of its self which you determined as not present but are you sure the intent of this foul was not to break up the attack?
Inside the PA given we reward a DFK into a PK we can cut the yellow card out and cancel any DOGSO as long as the tackle is a reasonable attempt to win the ball itself. Outside the PA we are somewhat limited. You are not mandated to show the yellow card but keep in mind what goes one way at one end MUST go the same way at the other end!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
Had a penalty been awarded and it was a genuine challenge for the ball then no card is required.
However as it was outside the penalty area the player's action broke up a promising attack with a free kick awarded then it was a caution for unsporting behaviour.
Look at it this way. A penalty kick restores the promising attack and as there is no DOGSO the referee has discretion to not card.