Question Number: 22917

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/8/2010

RE: middle school Other

Glen of Albuquerque, NM USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 102529

A foul is called in the defensive third, awarding ball to Blue. The ball is set, but before Blue can kick it Red player pops off in the offensive third and is carded. What is the point of the restart, at the original foul point, or the second foul point?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I don't quite understand who did what here, but I do know if the ball was not yet in play by Blue, the card to Red will be given and the restart will still be the kick for Blue.

The Red player popping off (not sure what that means, sorry) is not a foul because the ball was not yet in play (you did say Red popped off before Blue could kick it). All that Red's behavior can be is misconduct - either a caution or a sending off, depending on what he did. But because it happened while the ball was out of play, the restart stays with Blue.

Hope that helps.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Glen
A foul cannot be committed while the ball is out of play.
As the ball was not yet put back into play, after the foul called in the 'defensive third', the subsequent incident is not a foul but misconduct. The referee after carding the player restarts with the original free kick in the 'defensive third'.
Had the ball been kicked into play then the game would have been stopped again, the player carded for the offence and the restart is then a free kick from the point of the 2nd offence.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Glen, if play was stopped for a foul then as soon as you stop play you establish where and how the play is to restart. Whatever happens between the stoppage and the restart cannot alter the location of that foul.

Referee Glen, be careful on your terminology. Fouls happen during active play. Popping off is a terrible looking thing (I think...) but it is not a foul in stoppage of play; it is misconduct.