Question Number: 15537

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/20/2007

Andrew Graham of Aucklnad, NZ asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15520

Common sense did prevail. I gave them permission to get the hat but the player concerned showed extreme dissent in the way he handled it and the game was delayed far beyond was was reasonable. My question is simple. If you have to book a player before the kick off i assume you still let them kick off. Usual protocol states after a caution an indirect free kick is taken. I assume in this case that does not apply.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The only time the referee is obligated to restart play with an indirect free kick is if he stops play to deal with the discipline and there is no other breach of the Laws. In this case a tardy player irritated you and his name went into your book during a stoppage in play for which a restart, particularly a kick off, was specified in the Laws.

Unfortunate that copious application of common sense was not available that day. Another way could be a substitute delivering the cap to the keeper during play. That way his haste or lack thereof is nothing you need be concerned with. It becomes a keeper problem with one of his team mates. The conversation goes:

"Hey, my keeper forgot his cap".

"Captain, have a substitute run one over. Just go behind the goal line and hand it to him".

"We need to start hurry on, sir".

"Right, TWEET".

I'll bet there is hurrying and stuff...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Andrew. No, the usual protocol is to give an indirect only if you have stopped play to deal with the misconduct. Play had already stopped so you start with a kickoff. If the player deserved a caution then by all means give one but restart is always commensurate with why play has stopped (except for the silliness involving a penalty kick).