The Ref Stop

When to stop play, and how to restart play

CapeTownRef

Member
An attacker and a defender are chasing each other to reach the ball as it rolls towards the goal line about halfway between the edge of the PA and the corner flag. The defender wants to stop the attacker crossing the ball into the box, and as the attacker tries to cross, the defender slides in to block with a legitimate challenge. The ball slowly spins backwards and both players try to get up to retrieve the ball. However, the defender deliberately elbows the attacker who falls to the ground giving one of the best dying swan performances. The two players are off the field of play but the ball is still in play, and the next natural stoppage in play is a minute or so later when the defender's team go up the other end and score. So, the referee red cards the defender for violent conduct, but does the goal stand? If it does not stand, where and how does the ref restart the game?
 
The Ref Stop
From the book:

Advantage should not be applied in situations involving serious foul play, violent conduct or a second cautionable offence unless there is a clear opportunity to score a goal. The referee must send off the player when the ball is next out of play, but if the player plays the ball or challenges/interferes with an opponent, the referee will stop play, send off the player and restart with an indirect free kick, unless the player committed a more serious offence.

So by the sounds of your post, play should be stopped immediately, a penalty kick awarded and the defender sent off.
 
If the ball was in play when the offence happened then play should have stopped immediately. The restart is a DFK from the boundary closest to the offence, and if this is within the boundary of the PA then a PK is awarded.
 
From the book:

Advantage should not be applied in situations involving serious foul play, violent conduct or a second cautionable offence unless there is a clear opportunity to score a goal. The referee must send off the player when the ball is next out of play, but if the player plays the ball or challenges/interferes with an opponent, the referee will stop play, send off the player and restart with an indirect free kick, unless the player committed a more serious offence.

So by the sounds of your post, play should be stopped immediately, a penalty kick awarded and the defender sent off.
It can only be advantage of there is a benefit to the non-offending team so the excerpt you have quoted is not relevant.

I can only assume the referee hasn't stopped playing because the offence happened outside the FOP so has allowed play to continue, which is very different to applying advantage.
 
It can only be advantage of there is a benefit to the non-offending team so the excerpt you have quoted is not relevant.

I can only assume the referee hasn't stopped playing because the offence happened outside the FOP so has allowed play to continue, which is very different to applying advantage.
Ahh misread the OP then
 
Referee has not stopped play and it all comes down to why. Other than the reason given above, also possible reasons are, before blowing the whistle there is a cross in and a good goal scoring opportunity and he applies advantage. Also possible referee hasn't seen the elbowing.

The goal is scored after play is continued. If the referee thinks he has made a mistake on the elbowing and before the restart, he can bring play back for a DFK from the goal line and issue sanction.

If he thinks no mistakes are made or realized on continuing play, then goal stands and restart is kick off. If he had played advantage and depending on how the he had seen the elbow he could issue the appropriate sanction (if any) before kick off. From the description, it sounds like a red card.
 
Back
Top