Question Number: 32641

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/12/2018

RE: under FIFA rules Adult

Kenneth G Wikle of Howell, MI United States asks...

With the new Law changes regarding fouls committed off the field.How would the referee handle this?

The ball is in play on the field of play.A defender and an attacker are standing off the field over the goal line two yards from the goal post. The defender strikes the attacker in the face with his fist.

Would this be a PK to restart?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kenneth
First off the defender is dismissed for violent conduct and shown a red card. In such instances play restarts with a free kick on the boundary line nearest to where the offence/interference occurs. As this will result in a direct free kick offence within the offenders penalty area a penalty kick is awarded.
So yes a PK is the correct restart.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ken,
the LOTG make their actions a if they had occurred ON the FOP at the point of the straight back pull of the offence puts it ON the PA goal line portion it is now inside the PA & becomes a PK restart. The defender is shown a red card for VC and his team reduced by a player.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Kenneth,
You are right, the restart would be a penalty kick. The defender would also be sent off for violent conduct.

The law says that:

''If, when the ball is in play: a player commits an offence against a match official or an opposing player, substitute, substituted or sent off player, or team official outside the field of play [...]
play is restarted with a free kick on the boundary line nearest to where the offence/interference occurred; a penalty kick is awarded if this is a direct free kick offence within the offender's penalty area.''