Question Number: 33687

Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play 10/3/2019

RE: Youth to adult, comp and rec.

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

I saw a similar thing happen on the weekend, in the Rugby World Cup - then it happened to me in a women's 7-a-side game, Tuesday.

In the midfield, a woman pushed the ball past me and I thought I was stepping out of her path, to let her go through. We both zigged when one of us should have zagged and we collided and fell to the ground, with a bit of a laugh. :)

Though high-paced and good quality soccer, it's played in a 'recreational' spirit. Play was stopped and I awarded a drop ball to the blocked-out player. There was no complaint.

Similar was done in the rugby game, but it only 'felt' like the proper thing to do here. I didn't know if it is supported in the new Laws, like a ref getting hit by a ball is.

Your thoughts?

Thanks again, for your valuable work here.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Barry,
While it's true that the law doesn't allow for a dropped ball just because a player and the referee collide, if both you and the player end up on the ground, I think you would be entitled to say that you were temporarily unable to carry out your duties as a referee (as you were not able to properly see what was going on in the game) and would need to stop play for that reason. Having stopped play, a dropped ball to the team in possession before the stoppage, would then become the correct restart.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
As described it is not supported in Law. A dropped ball only applies when the ball makes contact with the referee not a player. In your scenario the referee can make a case for being *incapacitated* on the fall to the ground for a few seconds in which case play can be stopped with a DB restart. The team last in possession gets the ball.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YLfhUzS7lio
I got in the way of a player recently in a small tight field and he swore at me. I stopped play cautioned him and restarted with an IDFK.