Question Number: 18885

Law 5 - The Referee 4/25/2008

RE: Adult

Paul Browes of London, UK asks...

Can a referee play the advantage rule in the penalty area, i.e. allowing play to continue for a few seconds after a foul on an attacker before giving a penalty if no advantage is gained?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Absolutely! In fact it's the wise referee that delays any whistle inside the penalty area a few seconds to see what transpires. Worst thing a referee can do is blow a quick whistle inside the penalty area and then have to bring out what would have been a valid goal

Read other questions answered by Referee Keith Contarino

View Referee Keith Contarino profile

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee should choose the advantage he wishes to see realised is a goal! Other than a goal being scored directly from playing off an advantage there's a 94% chance of a [professional side] goal being scored by a penalty kick. The idea is one side was involved in foul play and the referee must punish that foul play in the most strenuous manner possible, where he has the choice. A goal is good enough punishment, seek that either through letting things run to that event or returning to the original offence and awarding the penalty.

Regards,

Read other questions answered by Referee Chuck Fleischer

View Referee Chuck Fleischer profile

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

They could. I've heard people say "never give advantage in the penalty area." And I really don't like to say "never" because that covers an awful lot of what-ifs.... There are cases where an advantage in the penalty area could produce a goal just as assuredly as a penalty kick. It must be your judgment in these matters. That is the beauty of advantage post 1997. We can bring it back if it doesn't work the way we thought it would!

Read other questions answered by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

View Referee Debbie Hoelscher profile

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I yell,"Advantage!" and sweep the arms to signal then add the words "Play on!", after the advantage is realized. In the penalty area I likely see advantage as a goal scored or something akin bloody close
as I await the favourable outcome of the ball crossing the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts. If I do yell advantage and the player misses or messes up on his own accord , seen a player actually lift the ball over the cross bar on a wide open net from 2 yards in front we do set up a possibility of an oops so I hold of on to the phrase (play on!) perhaps a bit longer!!.
My point being is a PK is a very very good scoring opportunity so to allow play without at least as good an advantage really makes little sense. Plus the defender who fouled COULD be on a DOGSO so a goal against his team might actually keep him on the field. Yet if the attacking player after the foul regains control of the ball an holds their composure with an easy shot but the ball is saved or misses completely technically we can only caution the DOGSO if we belive it was in fact NOT prevented plus the foul is no longer valid as we are saying advantage was realized!
Summary eat the whistle a second and see what happens!
Cheers

Read other questions answered by Referee Richard Dawson

View Referee Richard Dawson profile

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes! Often times letting the play continue gives the attacking team a better scoring opportunity than a PK itself.

Read other questions answered by Referee Ben Mueller

View Referee Ben Mueller profile

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 18944