Question Number: 17372

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/18/2007

RE: Rec Adult

Justin of London, UK asks...

Hi. Could you please clarify the following. If a player has been deemed to have committed a foul on the opposing player on the edge of the penalty box, is it a penalty kick? If the physical contact that was made on the player was outside the penalty area but say, half of the opposing players' body was inside the area, should a penalty be awarded? thanks! justin

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The penalty area is really a volume, marked by the outer edges of the 18-yard lines painted around it, and extending upward indefinitely high. Just like the keeper may handle any ball that is inside this volume, a direct-free-kick foul that occurs inside this volume is a penalty kick. If a player was tripped outside but fell inside, it's not a penalty kick. If a player partially inside the volume is struck on the part of his body outside the volume, it is not a penalty kick.

Can we determine that to the nearest nanometer? Of course not. For the ref to award a penalty kick, she has to be sure that the actions took place inside the PA. Only if she absolutely sure that the location of the foul is inside the lines will she point to the mark.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

If a defender commits a foul outside of their penalty area then it cannot be a penalty kick, regardless of where the victim of the foul fell down. The foul is determined by the location ofthe contact (or attempted contact) on the opponent.

However, let's say player A2 is holding onto player B3's uniform and A2 maintains his run into the penalty area. Finally in the penalty area B3 pulls A2 off the ball enough for a teammate from team B to take the ball. In a case like this the referee should award a penalty kick as FIFA has ruled that when a foul occurs over a certain distance, the referee should award the restart of greatest benefit to the attacking team.

But remember, if the foul never occurs in the penalty area then it can never be a penalty kick, as in the question you pose above.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Justin,
it is an very astute question. If the penal foul (of which there are ten only that could be eligable for a penalty kick) occurs outside but a player stumbles and then falls inside the PA the cause of the fall was the foul outside hence a DFK only. If the contact point is plainly visible when a player is in stride with part of the body inside left leg and part of the body outside right leg. I kick his right ankle the foul is a DFK just outside I kick his left ankle we have a PK. There will be times though where that easy to spot contact is simply not so easy. Read on to see why the guy in the middle gets the big bucks.

The possible awarding of a PK tends to pucker the sphincter muscles of many a referee. By definition the PENAL foul must occur INSIDE the penalty area to be upgraded from DFK (direct free kick ) to PK (Penalty Kick).

The five inch border boundary line which surrounds the PA (penalty Area) is an invisable 5 inch wall extending straight up and a penal foul occurring within that five inches is considered inside the penalty area and is classified as a PK event.

The penal foul of ?handles the ball deliberately", creates issues because a ball is much wider than the boundary line. The ball could in theory be deliberately touched with a hand completely outside the boundary line but the rest or part of the ball on the opposing side is in contact with or overhanging the boundary line.

In my opinion such a ball deliberately contacted by a defending player, say to knock a ball away from the foot of an attacker about to shoot is in fact a PK where as the defending keeper has full authority to do so with no foul at all even if the keeper's entire body was outside the penalty area. Thus here it is the ball location that determines if a foul is in progress not the exact hand to ball point contact.

This distinction is different than point of contact of a physical type of penal foul of player versus opponent.

When a trip, kick or strike or push or tackle or charge occurs there is a definite contact point. We can see PLAYER A actually come into contact with OPPONENT B.
In jumps or spits there might be a contact point or as in say or any attempt to trip, kick, or strike we must judge where that contact point WOULD have been if the opponent managed to actually evade or miss being hit by the foul.
Just a point on the spitting foul as in a striking foul where a thrown object the location of the foul is where the player was or would be hit not necessarily where the opponent was.

The most interesting one in my opinion is holding because the contact point is ongoing. Consider a shirt grab the jersey can be stretched out to near 3 feet from the player with the body of the player actually inside the penalty area and the portion of jersey grabbed is outside the penalty area. It states in the additional instructions to referees we are to consider it a PK if the hold is maintained.

It will be in the opinion of the referee when that foul is a borderline was it in or out. The AR should be consulted so look over and get eye contact if he is in good position to see. A silent signal of his thoughts works well to help a referee decide one way or another. However, if you need to then go over and talk then do so, it is important to get the call right.

Awarding a PK takes courage and going with an outside dfk because you are testicularly challenged is not an option, if you see it as marginally in it is in. If you are truly unsure then a DFK outside. Be sure you recognize any reckless or excessive elements if they were present as well as considering DOGSO criteria.
Also look to see consecutive fouls where the first unbalances outside but a bit more of the same inside ensures he goes down. Here we could apply advantage and it is certainly advantageous to have a PK instead of a DFK.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Good question. It also depends upon the TYPE of foul. If it's not one of the 10 penal fouls it would result in an indirect free kick regardless of where it took place.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

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