XII. FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

1. Should a penalty be awarded if, when the ball is played, a player intentionally trips or strikes an opponent who is in an offside position in the penalty-area, but who is not attempting to play the ball or interfere with play in any way?

   Yes.

2. What is the decision if a player after receiving the approval of the referee to leave the field of play because of slight injury or other cause, places himself near the touch-Iine and puts his foot into the field causing an opponent to fall?

   The player shall he cautioned and the game restarted by a direct free-kick because the offence occurred within the field of play.

3. Should the referee award a penalty-kick when a defending player is sent off the field for kicking or striking an opponent within the penalty-area?

   Yes, provided the ball was in play at the moment when the offence was committed.

4. If a player intentionally lies on the ball for an unreasonable length of time, is he guilty of ungentlemanly conduct?

   Yes. He must be cautioned, and an indirect free-kick awarded to the opposing team. In case of repetition of the offence, he must be sent off the field.

5. How should the game be restarted if, when the ball is about to be dropped within the penalty-area, a defending player strikes an opponent before the ball touches the ground?

   After having taken the appropriate action in relation to the offence the referee snaIl drop the ball. If the misconduct took place inside the penalty-area he must not award a penalty-kick because the call was not in play at the time the offence was committed.

6. What action should the referee take if a player of the defending team, other than the goalkeeper standing outside the penalty-area, intentionally handles the ball within the penalty-area?

   He shall penalise the player by awarding a penalty-kick because the offence took place within the penalty-area.

7. What action should the referee take if, while the ball is in play, two players of the same team commit ungentlemanly or violent conduct towards each other on the field of play?

   The referee shall caution them or send them off and restart the game with an indirect free-kick.

8. A player enters or returns to the field of play without receiving a signal from the referee to do so, and, apart from this, commits another more serious infringement, e.g. handles the ball or strikes an opponent. How should he be penalised?

   1. The referee shall caution the player for entering or returning to the field of play without having received a signal from the referee.
   2. The referee shall furthermore punish the more serious infringement in accordance with the Laws of the Game.

9. If a referee cautions a player who in turn apologises for his misconduct, can the referee omit to report the incident?

   No, all cautions must he reported.

10. What action should the referee take against players who leave the field of play whilst celebrating a goal?

    Celebrating a goal is all part of football. A caution is only warranted if a player gives an excessive demonstration of jubilation. e.g. by jumping over the boundary fence, gesticulating at his opponents or the spectators or ridiculing them by pointing to his shirt.

11. The goalkeeper controls the ball with his hands in the penalty-area, and passes it to a team-mate who is also within the penalty-area. The latter miskicks the ball towards his own goal. The goalkeeper touches it with his hands but fails to stop it entering the goal. What should the referee's decision be in this case?

    The referee shall award the goal.

12. The goalkeeper is in his penalty-area holding the hall firmly in his hands. He then places it on the ground and takes it beyond the penalty-area. On noticing that an opponent is very near he re-enters the penalty-area with the ball and controls the ball again with his hands so as to pass it to a colleague or kick it a long way down the field. Should the goalkeeper be penalised for this?

    Yes, the opposing team shall be awarded an indirect free-kick as the goalkeeper has committed an infringement of Law XII 5 (a).

13. Whilst the ball is in play, the goalkeeper strikes an attacking player in the area enclosed by the goal-line and the goal-nets, the player having missed the ball and fallen into the nets. What action should the referee take?

    The referee shall stop the game, send off the goalkeeper and restart the game by dropping the ball at the place where it was when the violence occurred, unless it was within the goal-area at that time, in which case it shall be dropped on that part of the goal-area line which runs parallel to the goal-line at the point nearest to where the ball was when play was stopped. A penalty-kick cannot be awarded as the area described is not part of the held of play.

14. 15.1. What action should the referee take against a player other than the goalkeeper who, whilst standing in his own penalty-area holding a shinguard, hits the ball so as to prevent it entering the goal?

    The shinguard must be regarded as an extension of the player's hand and he must therefore be penalised by the award of a penalty-kick.

    15.2. What happens if in a similar situation, the player in question is the goalkeeper?

    The situatIon is different for the goalkeeper since the Laws of the Game entitle him to play the ball with his hands, therefore he should be cautioned and penalised by the award of an indirect free-kick.

15. How should a player be penalised for throwing an object (stone, shoe) or spitting from within the penalty-area at a player who is outside the penalty-area?

    He must be penalised by a penalty-kick and be sent off.

16. A forward running with the ball meets a defender in his path. The forward runs off the field of play so as to continue playing the hall, but the defender intentionally knocks him over when he is beyond the touch-line. How should the referee penalise the infringement and how should he restart the game?

    The referee shall caution or send off the defender, depending upon the seriousness of the offence. He shall restart the game by dropping the ball at the place where it was when the infringement was committed, except if it was within the goal-area at that time, in which case it shall be dropped on that part of the goal-area line which runs parallel to the goal-line at the point nearest to where the ball was when play was stopped.

17. A goalkeeper kicks the hall to a player of his team. This player passes the ball back to the goalkeeper, who then returns it once more, either to the same player or another. This action is repeated several times. Should this conduct be regarded as time-wasting or should one apply the principle that the players of the opposing team have the possibility of intercepting these passes?

    Only if the referee deems that the action of the goalkeeper is deliberately intended to waste time in the sense of Law XII 5(b), shall he award an indirect free-kick to the opposing team.

18. If a player throws an object at an opponent (e.g. a stone, a shoe or any other missile), where should the offence be penalised?

    The offence is deemed to be committed at the place where the guilty player started the action.

19. Should the referee send off, for violent conduct, a player who spits at an opponent?

    Yes. Play shall be restarted with a direct free-kick (or penalty-kick) if the offence took place while the ball was in play.

20. ls there a difference in the punishment to be given for spitting at an opponent or attempting to do so?

    No. Spitting or attempting to do so are equally grave offences.

21. What action should the referee take against a player who throws an object (e.g. a shoe) at a player who is seated on the substitutes' bench?

    The referee shall stop the game, send off the guilty player and resume the game by an indirect free-kick from the place where the offender was situated, subject to the overriding conditions of Law XIII.

22. What action should the referee take against a substitute who throws an object (e.g. a shoe) at a player of the opposing team who is on the field of play and is at that moment playing the ball?

    The referee shall stop the game, send the substitute off and resume the game by dropping the ball at the place it was when play was stopped, unless it was within the goal-area at that time, in which case it shall he dropped on that part of the goal-area line which runs parallel to the goal-Iine at the point nearest to where the ball was when play was stopped. He must report this incident to the responsible authorities. The substitute will not be allowed to take part in the match.

23. May a player stand behind the opponent's goal-line, between the goal-posts?

    No.

24. What action should be taken it a player standing in his own penalty-area strikes the referee?

    The player shall be sent off and play resumed with an indirect free-kick to the opposing team, taken from the place of the offence, subject to the overriding conditions of Law XIII.

25. May the yellow card be shown to coaches or members of a technical delegation?

    No, the yellow card is only used in cautioning players.

26. lf a player who has been cautioned asks to leave the field to have an injury treated or for any other reason and re-enters the field without the referee's permission, should he be sent off because he has already been cautioned?

    Yes, he shall be sent off.

27. A goalkeeper holding the ball in his penalty-area, deliberately throws the ball at an opponent who is outside the penalty area. What action should the referee take?

    A penalty-kick shall be awarded in accordance with Decision 1 of Law XII.