Question Number: 33316

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/6/2019

RE: Competitive Adult

Peter Babbage of Hjorring , Denmark asks...

This question is a follow up to question 33309

Thank you for your answers to my question, always much appreciated. I am however still just a little confused. I take the point that if the ball was handled on the line and a follow up shot missed, the ref can go back to the original offence, issue a red card and award a penalty. However, logic ( though maybe not law) tells me that the player was not dogso as he still had one. So would the ref have been incorrect in law to award a goal kick and issue a yellow card?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Peter,
if the foul was further away from goal and had stopped an opportunity to get off a shot or continue an attack towards the goal this type of opportunity is not clear cut as to a shot that WOULD enter the goal EXCEPT for the handling.

The difference is denying a goal versus a goal scoring opportunity.

We play advantage , the advantage is REALIZED and the subsequent shot is missed or saved we do NOT go back. It could be a goal kick if the subsequent opportunity to shoot is squandered (nothing to do with the previous foul, it could be a pass off to a different player who is NOT off balance, no new defenders blocking, no wide out impossible angle) & the shot sailed over the bar and we could indeed caution the defending player for the attempt to deny the opportunity or the reckless aspect of that last tackle rather then red card send off because the opportunity squandered by the opposition was as as good or better than anything they had previously.

A deliberate handling of the ball is not considered as a reasonable challenge (same as a shirt grab as they have nothing to do with trying win the ball from the opponent ) which when a defender tackles inside the PA his actions deemed a foul this can be downgraded from a DOGSO send off into caution because a PK is an opportunity and it is a defenders' job to try and make a tackle to win the ball.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
In this case it was a goal that was denied not a goal scoring opportunity. So that is why it is a caution under the current Law.
In the case of no goal scored then the wait and see sorts it with the referee being able to go back to the original offence, send off the defender for denying a goal and restart with a penalty kick.
In the case where advantage has been realised on a goal scoring opportunity and the opportunity is then fully realised then it is not a red card offence. I feel those are difficult ones to call as time is a key factor.
If we look at the scenario where a defender tries to stop a ball going to an attacker with his hand but fails, the attacker gains control of the ball with advantage played and shoots wide then more than likely a caution and a goal kick. Yes the referee can still go back to the original offence if he believes the advantage was not realised yet it can be viewed that a goal scoring opportunity was not really denied.
I had one like the Liverpool incident a few seasons ago and I was too quick with my whistle. Just after I blew an attacker came from behind me and scored. Anyway I sent off the defender and restarted with a penalty kick which was missed. There was not much complaint as the attacking team went on to win.
It also reminds me of another incident where in a game a goalkeeper in his attempt to win the ball fouled an attacker inside the PA who managed to pass it to a team mate in the open. He moved the ball on some 3/5 yards and shot into the side netting. He was holding his head in disbelief. I restarted with a goal kick and no caution for the GK. I felt that the advantage was fully realised and it would have raised questions as to how it was a card with no foul. We know we can go back to caution after advantage yet in my instance it was not reckless and not tactical as attacking play continued with a chance taken.
This incident back in 2014 caused a bit of a stir
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2614521/GRAHAM-POLL-Phil-Dowd-got-decision-send-Cardiffs-Juan-Cala-spot-on.html