Question Number: 33179

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/23/2019

RE: College

Christopher Fernandes of Kuwait, Kuwait Kuwait asks...

A defender blocks his opponent by putting himself in front of the player just outside the box. to which the opponent pushes the defender and punches him on the head.

What is the referees decision?

Both players Red card or Both Yellow

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Christopher,

By your description, this is a red card for the attacker. I can't imagine why there would be any card for the defender. If this was an actual scenario and a card was issued to the defender, then I'd say it's most likely the referee has seen something you couldn't see from your position as a coach. Perhaps a stray elbow or some such.

It also might be a foul by the defender to start with - typically speaking, the ball needs to be within playing distance for that sort of blocking action (although if we're simply talking about players standing there then anybody is allowed to stand wherever they like)

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Chris,
It will depend on the circumstances?
If a defender is blocking an attacker by impeding or holding or charging into him that will be at minimum an indfk or dfk if contact. No PK if outside the PA. Given how this occurs it COULD be a caution for USB if tactically done to stop the attack or even a direct red (reduce them by a player) but only if the DOGSO criteria are met.

However if the defender is merely standing his ground the attacker cannot run through him.

Thus the push could be a DFK out. The Follow up punch is a direct red card for VC against the attacker no matter what the defender did or did not do! The attacking team would be reduced a player
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Christopher
Let us deal with the easy one first.
The attacker has used violent conduct against an opponent by punching him in the head so that is certainly a red card offence for which the attacker is dismissed.
Now the defenders action has to be considered. Did the defender deliberate block the attacker going through on goal which can be a tactical foul. Did he do nothing other than stand in his original position without NO movement? Was the defenders actions denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity by holding the attacker from getting through on goal by blocking him with his body?
The answer to these questions can be determined whether the referee saw a foul or not by the defender. If there was a foul I would say that it was likely to be a caution and if the foul denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity it would be a red card.
So everything depends on context and circumstance. I can see a situation where a defender deliberately fouls an opponent outside the penalty area which can be a caution for a tactical foul / reckless etc or a red card depending on whether the DOGSO conditions existed or not and the attacker retaliates with violent conduct which is a red card.
I can also see a situation where an attacker simply runs into an opponent who has made NO movement which is not a foul by the defender so the attacker commits the offence followed up by a red card for violent conduct. In that situation as the defender has done nothing wrong no further action is required against him .