Question Number: 15845

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/21/2007

RE: REC Adult

Anthony Reade of bristol, ENGLAND asks...

IF A PLAYER IS RUNINNG TOWARDS THE GOAL ALONG THE OPPOSITION BYLINE IN THE PENALTY BOX. HE GOES ROUND A DEFENDER BY RUNNING OFF THE PITCH AND THE BALL IS STILL IN PLAY. THE DEFENDER FOULS HIM OFF THE PITCH. WHAT HAPPENS. IS IT A PENALTY?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

To be a foul, three things must be present -
(1) on the field
(2) against an opponent
(3) while the ball is in play.

Anything else cannot be a foul, but it can be misconduct. For example, actions against a teammate or a spectator, actions while the ball is not in play, or as in your scenario actions while off the field of play. The defender is cautioned and shown the yellow card, and the restart is a dropped ball at the location where the ball was at the time of the incident. If the ball was inside the goal area, the location would be moved to the 6 yard line.

If the action used excessive force, the referee would send off the defender for violent conduct. The restart would remain a dropped ball.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Cannot be a foul because it did not occur on the field of play. This is misconduct and the defender should be cautioned and shown the yellow card. The restart is a drop ball at the point where the ball was when the referee stopped play.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Anthony,
just be very, very CLEAR the event happened TOTALLY off the pitch, in touch and not so much as a toe nail was on the boundry line. The event must be at LEAST cautionable with a yellow card shown if a dropball restart occurs. I see any doubt or way to see the foul as an attempt to foul before leaving the pitch and we are inside the park pk all the way! I might not even caution if it was not reckless.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If it's off the pitch io's not even a foul much less a penalty kick. This is misconduct, punished by a caution and yellow card. Play is restarted with a dropped ball at the point the ball was when play was stopped subject to the Special Circumstances in law 8. Of course, the referee may view the action as trifling and simply allow play to continue. He may NOT award a penalty kick.