Question Number: 33587

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/20/2019

RE: Adult

Jason of Taber, Alberta Canada asks...

How much advantage is enough? We have a couple of games this season where an attacking player is fouled outside the box but manages to play on. The ref calls advantage. The attacking player on both occasions is clear through on goal and shoots cleanly, not impeded by the previous foul. The goalie saves. The ref then awards a free kick to the attacking team at the spot of the original foul. How much more advantage can an attacking player get? Basically its saying to the teams that if the player doesnt score then the attacking team gets another chance.On both occasions the attacking team scored with the subsequent free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jason
All down to the opinion of the referee
The laws tell us that the referee ** allows play to continue when an offence occurs and the non-offending team will benefit from the advantage, and penalises the offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time or within a few seconds**
So each individual referee is left to opine whether advantage did in fact accrue and the timing of a few seconds.
In general once the advantage restores the opportunity to the attacking team which it avails off the referee should not go back to the original foul.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jason,
Advantage inside the PA ,we often wait and see, as a PK is really the only call for a foul that stops a clear scoring opportunity or goal. The ONLY exception might be a squandered opportunity by an unsporting gesture that was contrived and missed.

Outside the PA it is a DFK only often with a wall and not as easy as a PK but still a decent chance. The OPINION of the referee weighs the advantage in terms of was getting the shot away really better than that DFK opportunity ALREADY earned? To some extent the further away the less likely we bring it back but it will always depend on how the referee views the whole scenario. Angle changes, defenders reposition, ball speed and control, was he stumbling, reacting to keeper pressure?
Cheers