Question Number: 30212

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/22/2016

RE: Adult

Jason McGovern of Bangkok, Thailand asks...

If a foul starts outside the penalty area, but the player retains control of the ball, and a second foul takes place within the penalty area, is it a PENALTY, or a FREE KICK.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Jason,

It would be a penalty kick. It's like holding - if it begins outside the Penalty Area and continues inside, it's a Penalty Kick.

This is basically an application of advantage. It's most advantageous to consider play as having continued from the first foul and a penalty kick awarded.

What's tricky is when, say, an attacker is still stumbling from the first foul into the penalty area and is then knocked over - that touch that knocks him over might not be a foul; it might just be that the player was off balance.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Jason,

If an advantage was given for the first foul which apparently is the case in the situation you described, a penalty kick would be awarded if the second foul was called. Obviously, an advantage could be given on the second foul as the attacker could continue to the goal. However, if there was no advantage and the game was stopped for the foul, a penalty kick would be awarded.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jason
Very simply the referee either plays advantage on the first foul or he adopts a wait and see approach. As a result the referee can call the second foul which is to award the penalty kick restart.
I might also say that if it was all one foul such as holding with part of the foul outside the penalty area and part inside then a penalty kick must be awarded.

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Hello Jason,
there are different foul scenarios but if a player is actually fouled twice, as long as no whistle was sounded to stop play and the 2nd foul occurs inside the opposition PA award the PK as it is the greatest advantage.

The difficulty is if the 1st foul is a point of contact foul and it creates a uncontrolled falling into the PA where some additional contact is made but the 1st foul was ALWAYS putting the player on the deck! That is a DFK outside even if there might be misconduct with the additional contact inside. As long as you are certain the player was going down and not prevented from having a shot.

IF you have any solid reason to award the PK as the best choice, do so. I recall awarding a DFK outside the PK but I cautioned 2 players. I cautioned the defender who tripped him outside and the defender who slid into him inside. Rather then being pleased with a DFK and having two opposing players cautioned they STILL wanted a PK for the slide contact inside although the player was already on the ground from the 1st foul! Sigh.
A foul such as holding is often referred to as a continuous foul where a stretchy shirt and exceptional balance will take a player who was being fouled outside to inside the PA for a PK instead of the DFK.

I prefer the wait and see rather than a verbal advantage when in about the PA but that choice as a referee tactic is up to the CR!

from our pitch to your pitch in the spirit of fair play