Question Number: 22932

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/11/2010

RE: 3rd National Level College

Kevin Wu of Shanghai, Shanghai China asks...

I think that if two players of the same team fight each other on the pitch when the ball is in play (e.g., Kieren Dyer and Lee Bowyer), the referee should award the other team an indirect free kick at the place where the fight occurs. Is this correct?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It is correct only if the referee stops play to send them both off. I suppose he could caution them both - as 'fighting' has different interpretations.

If play has stopped for some other reason than the fight, then the restart will follow the reason play stopped, and they will still be cautioned or sent off.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Wu
If the referee stops play to issues cautions for USB or dismiss for violent conduct between team mates then the restart is an IDFK from where the offence took place

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

That's correct.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the referee stops play solely for misconduct of any kind on the field of play, the restart is, as you suggest, an IDFK. If there is a foul associated with the misconduct the restart is for the foul. Since your question involves teammates, there can be no foul so the restart is always an IDFK. Were these opponents the restart would be a DFK or penalty kick depending where the offense took place. But when stopping play when there's a foul involved, the referee is NOT stopping play solely for misconduct, he's stopping play for a foul which happens to be misconduct.