Question Number: 17686

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/5/2007

Scott of Miami, FL USA asks...

What is the correct call? If the ball is at one end of the field and a player strikes another player at the other end of the field, what does the ref call? Clearly the player should be sent off, and according to the rules it is a direct free kick, but from where? At the point of infraction, or at the point where the ball is? The rules also say that stopping the game to issue a red or yellow card is an indirect free kick to the opposing team, but the game would have actually been stopped for striking another player which is a direct free kick. Seems there is some ambiguity here?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Restarts are taken from the point the infraction occurred. (Exceptions for a penalty kick, and for infractions that occur inside the goal area.) So the restart would be where the striking took place.

There is no ambiguity over whether it is a direct or indirect free kick (DFK/IFK). Law 12 says, "commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player." Since striking was previously mentioned as a DFK offense, the restart is a DFK. The only time it is an IFK is when play was stopped solely for misconduct which did not involve a foul. For example, dissent or some forms of unsporting behavior.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The correct call is most likely a sending-off for violent conduct, and the restart is a direct free kick from the point where the striking took place (where perp contacted body part of victim). If the striking took place in the penalty area, and it was a defender who did the striking of an opponent, the restart is a penalty kick, with the sending-off. If it was an opponent of the defender who did the striking, it will be a direct free kick out and a sending off of the opponent. If, perchance, the striking was one teammate against another (it happens), there is still a sending off for violent conduct, but the restart is an indirect free kick for the opposing team at the spot of the striking (unless it was in the goal area-special circumstance), because a teammate cannot commit a foul against a teammate, only misconduct. It really is logical, and not at all ambiguous once one has had a bit of time and experience to absorb the nuances. You did very well!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

There is no ambugity in the Laws. First, an infraction of Law 12 happens at a specific point on the field -- that is where the restart of play is, unless the special circumstances of Law 8 apply or the infraction is a direct free kick offence and is in the player's own penalty area. If the infraction is misconduct alone the restart is indirect free kick. If the infraction is a direct free kick offence as well as misconduct the referee restarts as per the more serious of the two infractions. Here Law 5, bullet 12 is the applicable Law.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

When simultaneous offenses are committed, then the referee should sanction the offending team by punishing the most serious offense. In this case the act of striking an opponent is violent conduct (a type of misconduct) AND a direct free kick foul.

The law says if play is stopped solely to issue a caution or send a player off the field, then the game is restarted with an indirect free kick. In your case, the act of striking is also a foul and thus play is not solely being stopped due to misconduct, it is being stopped to punish a foul. So the restart must be dictated by the foul, thus a direct free kick is given at the point of the offense.

Do not restart play where the ball was - always punish fouls on the field where they occur! (Subject to the special circumstances in law 8.)

Next, before allowing play to restart, you should send the guilty player off for violent conduct and show him a red card.

Wait for the offender to leave the area of the field and its immediate surroundings to ensure he takes no further part in the match.

Only then should you allow the direct free kick to take place.