Question Number: 16642

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/11/2007

RE: High School

Paul Becker of Huntington, WV USA asks...

NFHS Rules state that any foul that results in a direct kick that takes place within the penalty area is awarded a penalty kick, my question is regarding a foul that is in the box that is not a scoring opporitunity.

Game situation: a striker recieves the ball from a midfielder a defender charges her in the box. The attacker is in the top of the box and not facing the goal. Following the foul I awarded the penalty kick, since it was not a goal scoring opporitunity could you restart play with a direct free kick from the spot of the foul?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Not even High School has messed up the interpretations as much as you are suggesting. If a DFK foul is committed in the penalty area, it is a penalty kick. It doesn't have to be a goal-scoring opportunity.

You seem to be confusing your fouls and restarts with your misconducts. I suggest that you carefully study Law (Rule) 12 before you go back out onto the field.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

US high school played under NFHS soccer rules breaks fouls and misconduct into four sections that deal with nine direct free kick offences leaving out tackles and makes contact with he opponent before making contact with the ball, then three sections dealing with offences resulting an indirect free kick being awarded. An indirect free kick for misconduct alone is only mentioned in rule 13,2,2,i not as in Law 12. Penalty kicks are defined in rule 14,1,1 not as in Law 12. Perhaps this is why your thinking is as it is.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Keeping this simple is key!

Any direct free kick offense committed by the defending team within their own penalty area results in a penalty kick.

Do not concern yourself with any other facts from the play when deciding the restart. If the defense gives up a direct free kick inside their own penalty area, then you award a penalty kick. It's that simple.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

You are confusing a foul with a misconduct. A penalty kick will always be the restart when a FOUL, punishable by a direct free kick, is committed by a member of the defending team in their own penalty area. According to FIFA, it is a sending off offense (MISCONDUCT) to deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards that player's goal by committing an offense punishable by a free kick or penalty kick -- simply put a "DOGSO" (NOTE: I did not write "foul" anywhere in that....nor does FIFA!!!!). NHFS essentially copies this with the exception that these poor confused souls who edit the high school rules included the word foul in there. Now they have passed their confusion on to you. If you have the misconduct of "DOGSO" where the infringment occurs in the penalty area and is penalized by an INDIRECT free kick (dangerous play or impeding progress would be the most likely candidates) then your restart is an indirect free kick at the point of the infraction (in the penalty area, subject to the special placement should it have occurred in the goal area) and you send (dismiss in high school) the guilty player off and show him the red card for "DOGSO." If the infringement occurs in the penalty area and is penalized by a DIRECT free kick, you now have a penalty kick -- and you send off the player guilty of 'DOGSO' and show him/her the red card.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

It does not matter if it was a scoring opportunity or not. If it was a foul in the penalty area by the defending team and it otherwise would be a direct free kick, then a PK results.