Question Number: 22936

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/12/2010

RE: Competitive Other

Todd of Houston, TX USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 22911

The FIFA 'Interpretation' publication does indeed say '...restart play after it has been stopped due to...the issue of a yellow or red card for misconduct...', so in this case does it matter if the send off was for a foul (serious foul play) or for a non-foul (misconduct, i.e., violent conduct? I mean, if serious foul play, technically speaking, wasn't play stopped for the foul, not for misconduct?

I'm still confused by this one.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Todd
First off does it make a difference if the player is sent off for either SFP or VC. ?
For it to be SFP the ball has to be present and a player is guilty of serious foul play if he uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when challenging for the ball when it is in play. On the other hand a player is guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball.
That decision will have a bearing on the restart. In the case of serious foul play the restart will always be a direct free kick or a penalty whereas with violent conduct it can be a direct free kick, an indirect free kick or a dropped ball.
Also in disciplinary terms it may also have a bearing on suspension as many Leagues take strong action on VC.
Finally when someone says VC or SFP in refereeing term that has a clear meaning of what actually transpired.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

If an infringement is both a foul and misconduct, the restart is based on the foul (penalty kick, direct free kick or indirect free kick). If play is stopped for misconduct on the field which is not a foul, the restart is an indirect free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

See if it helps to think of it this way - if a DFK offense occurs, that controls the restart. If we layer on a card for misconduct because of the recklessness or violence of the offense, we haven't changed the restart, we've just added more punishment for the particular offense.

SFP is always a DFK/PK offense. Why? Because it involves opponents, on the field, while the ball is in play, while challenging for the ball. This will involve physical contact, and if it is judged to be contact involving excessive force, then it is SFP & DFK/PK. This is why SFP cannot be committed by a substitute or a subbed player.

The restart for VC will depend on where, when and who is involved.

As for having to whistle at such restarts, one has to use some common sense. Stating that a whistle is needed is softer than saying a whistle is required. Have you ever seen anyone whistle a dropped ball restart?