Question Number: 15847

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/21/2007

RE: Competetive Adult

Jethro Wookey of London, Tired UK asks...

This question is a follow up to question 1980

Consider: The ball is running towards the dead ball line, inside the 18 yard box. An attacker pursues it, closely followed by a defender. The attacker just manages to keep the ball in play, but his momentum carries him over the dead ball line, as does the defender's. As they both turn to get back to the ball (and back onto the pitch) the defender obstructs the attacker, committing a clear foul. What action does the referee take?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jethro,
NO fouls can occur off the pitch whether or not the ball is in play only misconduct happens in touch beyond the boundary lines !
The careless or reckless action is a cautionable action considered to be USB thus show the yellow card .
If the actions were excessive, send off, show a red card.
The restart is a drop ball.

Now while I have given you what the laws of the game for events CLEARLY off the field allow consider the justification of seeing the event as on the field? Was any part of either player in contact with the boundary line to sell a careless DFK foul? In other words could you sell the foul as on the field award a free kick POSSIBLY still show a card and get on with it? Could the foul have begun on the field as in an attempt to trip or an attempt to strike?

If you caution for USB and use the drop ball restart it is possible both teams will contest it, as is their right even if one team believes the other should not. More confrontation, more bad feelings. There are times when the referee has no discretion but must follow the laws to the letter and then again the ability to bend for the benefit of the players and the needs of the match is a defining characteristic of the enlightened referee.

What action do you take?
Your Match! Your Decision! Your Reputation!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Jethro,

Any foul cannot be committed off the field of play. Instead, only misconduct can be committed in this scenario. As such, the player obstructing the opponent should probably be cautioned and shown the yellow card. Play would be restarted by a dropped ball at the point where the ball was when play was suspended.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Jethro. Fouls may only occur ON the playing field so this is not a foul situation. What the defender did was commit misconduct, from your description, unsporting behavior. Had the defender hit or or otherwise used excessive force on his opponent, the misconduct would be violent conduct punished by a sending off and showing of the red card. For USB, the defender is cautioned and shown the yellow card and the match is restarted with a dropped ball at the point where the ball was subject to the Special Circumstances listed in Law 8