Question Number: 15639

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/29/2007

RE: Select Under 16

Rick of Cincinnati, Ohio USA asks...

Regarding a 50/50 foul. Can a situation with two players challenging for possession, each commiting DFK fouls in the process, be whistled and restarted with a drop ball instead of awarding a free kick to one team or the other?

Some background: Situation as described above, both players fouling each other in white team's defending third. White player falls and ends up laying on the ball. I stopped play for dangerous play and awarded IFK to blue and they managed to score on a header off the IFK. In thinking about this afterward it seemed that I was incorrect in awarding a scoring opportunity to blue since they were just as guilty as white in the commission of the initial foul. I resolved that the next time this occurred I would simply award the DFK to the defending team.

Fast forward one week, a similar situation occurs. Red team in possession in its defending third, white player throws a shoulder, fouling the red player off the ball, red player trying to maintain position, retaliates with a forearm. I'm thinking simultaneous foul in the defensive third and based on last week's expereince, whistle and award DFK to the defending team (red). White team parents go ballistic! Behavior of parents and players continue to deteriorate through the remainder of the match. It was perhaps, the most unpleasant game of my admittedly brief referee career.

So, was the thinking behind the decisions correct? Can you suggest other ways of safely resolving a situation of two players tied up in a 50/50 foul?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

What you describe are NOT simultaneous fouls so you should NOT restart with a dropped ball. Let's look at the second case which is easy. White player fouls red. You blow whistle. Red retaliates. You award a DFK to red and then caution and show the yellow card to the red player for the retaliation unless it was such as to warrant a sending off and red card. The dropped ball restart is usually a coward's way out of dealing with a bad situation. In your first instance, why did you let play continue if fouls were committed? Unless you were agreeing to let the players have at each other, you should have stopped play earlier. I agree that if the white player was knocked down and then sat on the ball, the proper call should have been a DFK for white and then if the white player was purposely delaying the restart of play, he could be cautioned for that. Again, you are nor describing simultaneous fouls but one team fouling another and the other retaliating. If you don't act quickly, you'll liable end up with a fist fight. Watch the players. If they are giving as well as they take and there's no tempers involved, you may want to allow it. That said, with U16 boys, I'd rather call the early foul as you never know when the testosterone is going to take over their brains.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

FIFA have, in their Questions and Answers, said simultaneous fouls necessitate a dropped ball restart. They say nothing of sequential fouls, which you are asking about. Usually courageous referees stop things at the first foul and punish the second as misconduct, especially at the U-16B level of play.

The referee allowing boys, of that age, wide latitude are the referees who have serious problems in match control. This is where referees really learn their trade, blow the whistle Sir and reward good foul recognition with a short break from all that running about. Once the young men see you brought your whistle to the match they calm down. The thing you need to remember, again at this age, get the card out early -- that tends to show you remembered them and aren't afraid to use them. Next to a baseball bat upside the head a splash of yellow tends to get their attention.

Very few referees get to see simultaneous fouls, so far you seem amongst the many...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Rick,
5050 in that context is in truth a myth! Equal oportunity to challenge for ball possession is one thing but that challenge must be fair or it is a foul. In 99% of the cases one player has slightly better position than the other and one player generally initiates the foul while the other responds with MISCONDUCT in retailiation! Perhaps if we as referees are more aware of the sequential foul situations by adjusting our thinking position and foul recognition proceedures.

The cop out for an event missed is more to enable a single referee than one without ARs to see behind the play! When you turn and see the player catching a hook to the head as his left jab catches the opponent's nose and cannot determine who is responsible then this drop ball is to compensate for a lack of knowledge.

FIFA Q&A LAW 5 The Referee
Question 14. While the ball is in play, two opposing players commit offences at the same time. What action does the referee take?
Answer 14 He stops the play, and depending on the offences, cautions or sends off the players, or takes no disciplinary action. The match will be restarted by a dropped ball, from the place where the ball was when the offences were committed.

In situations where the inevitable 50/50 opportunity is about to unfold before you! GET close, GET position to SEE the event clearly and watch for both reactions as well as who does what to who . TALK to the players let them know you are watching, looking and listening. Arms down, Elbows down! Don't backin! Check out the players' body language, their eye focus, the unneccessary arm, body or leg shift as per the speed of play? Of couse safety is number one so watch on anycollision to see head contact or listen to the sounds of impact ask if thet are alright, can they continue?

If the tackles were hard BUT fair let them know! yell out
WELL IN! or NOTHING THERE! ALL was FAIR! KEEP PLAYING! UP and at em fellows good effort!
If one tackle was foul and you want to play advantage be sure and say so immediately and identify WHO fouled who to head off retailiation!
Cheers