Question Number: 16367

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/19/2007

RE: Adult

Colin Montgomery of Belfast, Antrim Nortern ireland asks...

if there is an off the ball incident in the box i.e the keeper hits the stiker but the ball and play are at the far end of the pitch, would the referee give a penalty to the striker??

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the referee calls a direct free kick foul (also called major or penal foul), and the location of the foul was in the penalty area, then the restart must be a penalty kick. It doesn't matter where the ball is.

Striking is one of the 10 DFK fouls.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

What is required for a PK to be awarded? One of the ten offenses for which a direct free kick is given must occur in the penalty area (what you term the "box"). In the case you cite, of a defensive player striking an opponent on the field while the ball is in play qualifies as an offense for which a PK is awarded. Does it matter where the ball is? No. Does it matter where the rest of the players are? No. What matters is where the offense occurs, when it occurs and between which players. In your scenario, it happens on the field, between opponents, when the ball is in play which equals a direct free kick offense, or in this case a PK, (and a send off for violent conduct) because it happened in the penalty area (the keeper did actually connect inside the penalty area, right?). If this had been between teammates, there would still be a sending off for violent conduct but the restart would be an indirect free kick for the opponents at the point of the offense (unless it was in the goal area).

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The 3 requierments for a foul are 1. Ball in play, 2. Against opponent, and 3. On field. If all 3 are met, then a PK can be awarded if the foul occurred inside the penalty area against the defending team.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I would add that there is a fourth element in committing foul play: the offence must have been committed by a player! It is something overlooked by many but hugely important.

Law 12 makes the point that when an offence is committed the restart of play is at the point of the offence, not where the ball is at the time. We usually find the ball nearby when there is an offence committed, however this is not always the case. Imagine all the times opponents have tried to settle differences after-the-fact. Television presenters like to call this "handbags at six paces". Remember where the restart is after the referee is forced to the quarrelling "gents"? Yup, right close to where they are, not where the ball is. If the offence is a direct free kick offence and is in the penalty area of the "gent" who started the hair pulling it is a penalty kick, by Law.

Regards,