Question Number: 33221

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/6/2019

RE: Adult

Eunan of Greencastle, Donegal Ireland asks...

Hi,

My question is about when 2 opposing players leave the FOP involuntarily and one player fouls the other. The ball in is in play.

I remember my referee tutor saying the pitch extends and you give FK or PK. Although looking at the LOFTG it seems the correct restart is IDFK on nearby boundary line. Although I am reading a book about different situations that arise and there answer is a dropped ball from where the ball was when the 'foul' took place.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Eunan,

It's a good question because this law has changed in recent years. Previously, an offence committed outside the field of play didn't count as a foul so all you could do was caution the player and restart with a drop ball (in fact, the old Questions and Answers to the Laws of the Game required this).

Fortunately now, this has changed. P109 states that it's a direct free kick (or a PK if the nearest boundary is the Goal Line that forms part of the Penalty Area).

So basically, bring it back to the nearest point of the field and pretend it's there, and award the kick as appropriate.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Eunan,
In the scenario you describe, the decision is a direct free kick (or penalty kick). The relevant wording from the LotG is:

''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.''

The scenario where an offence outside the field of play leads to an IFK is where a player commits an offence against someone from their own team.