Restart Question

[Footer Phooter]

OK, Player A knocks down Player B during play. While falling, Player A grabs Player B's jersey and pulls him down with him. I call the foul on Player A, caution him for the foul, and caution Player B for the "retaliation" (the game was close to getting out of hand at this point). What's the proper restart?

[ur_land]

I think your scenario has an error. Is it supposed to be: "Player A knocks down Player B during play. While falling, Player B grabs Player A's jersey and pulls him down with him. I call the foul on Player A, caution him for the foul, and caution Player B for the "retaliation" (the game was close to getting out of hand at this point)".

If that is the case, the restart is a free kick to Player B's team for the initial foul that you whitled by Player A.

[Footer Phooter]

I think your scenario has an error. Is it supposed to be: "Player A knocks down Player B during play. While falling, Player B grabs Player A's jersey and pulls him down with him. I call the foul on Player A, caution him for the foul, and caution Player B for the "retaliation" (the game was close to getting out of hand at this point)".

If that is the case, the restart is a free kick to Player B's team for the initial foul that you whitled by Player A.


You're right. I put "A" when I meant "B".


At least I got the restart right. Team "A" was screaming for a drop ball. At this point, I became kind of unsure of whether I was right or not.

[Ref Flunkie]

You're right. I put "A" when I meant "B".


At least I got the restart right. Team "A" was screaming for a drop ball. At this point, I became kind of unsure of whether I was right or not.


They likely assumed you did not call a foul on the play and were just giving out misconducts. However, if in your mind you were calling a foul on Player A, you were correct in the restart.

[BC_Ref]

They likely assumed you did not call a foul on the play and were just giving out misconducts. However, if in your mind you were calling a foul on Player A, you were correct in the restart.

Even if you were dealing with misconduct, you still should have an IDFK if the ball is live. First person you card=direction of the kick.

In this circumstance - right call. DFK for B due to A's illegal charge.

[Ref Flunkie]

Even if you were dealing with misconduct, you still should have an IDFK if the ball is live. First person you card=direction of the kick.


Really? I have been wondering about this for a while...I would have thought it would have been a drop ball, as you had two equal misconducts that happened basically at the same time....I guess by the misconduct code you would need to give an IDFK, I just never knew which way it would go.

[ur_land]

If there was no foul and only misconduct, the IDFK goes against whomever committed the first misconduct (in this case player A).

[brhsoccer14]

Wait a minute guys, if Player A knocked down B, wouldn't that be the foul? Since this foul stops play, it would be a DFK. Since B did misconduct after the foul, B would get cautioned along with A. The ball would be given to B as a DFK.

So when this happens, quickly blow the whistle, point in the direction for the team that was initially fouled and give both players cautions. At least this seems right. The answers you all gave didn't seem right.

Wow, like all refs, I am blind, I did not see the second part of BC's reply nor did I comprehend Ref Flunkie's reply correctly... I need to get some sleep.

[GKbenji]

Really? I have been wondering about this for a while...I would have thought it would have been a drop ball, as you had two equal misconducts that happened basically at the same time....

Nope, one foul or misconduct had to happen first. Maybe by only a fraction of a second, but one came before the other. You have to decide which one.

The "simultaneous infractions" idea (where you punish the more serious) is only for infractions by the same player that are truly simultaneous. The classic example is a keeper who comes outside his penalty area and picks up a teammate's throw-in. The moment the keeper touches the ball, you have a) handling the throw-in (IFK) or b) handling outside his area (DFK). Thus you give the DFK.

But in any scenario involving opponents and fouls or misconduct, you have to identify the first offender. You can't weasel out and just give a drop ball because you couldn't decide. (Well, under NFHS you can weasel out with a drop ball on a throw-in decision, but that's the only exception. :) )

[jkc313]

Really? I have been wondering about this for a while...I would have thought it would have been a drop ball, as you had two equal misconducts that happened basically at the same time....I guess by the misconduct code you would need to give an IDFK, I just never knew which way it would go.

Clearly one misconduct occured before the other so an IDFK is given if there was no foul

[IASocFan]

I don't understand all the conversation. It sounds like you decided there was a foul; therefore, direct kick, and proceed with the game. In sounds like you weren't clear, and that led to more confusion and less control.

[Wreave]

Just remember, there are not two fouls on this play. There is one foul, pushing or charging, by Player A. The restart should be a DFK for B's team. After the foul (it doesn't matter that it was before the whistle), there was misconduct on Player B. Cautions issued to both players does not change the restart.

Expand it a little to help clarify: If A pushes B, you blow the whistle, set up for the DFK restart for B, then you see B come up behind A and push him, you'll card B (probably red for VC). But since play was stopped, and the restart was set for a DFK for B's team, that restart stays the same. Just as for any misconduct that occurs on a dead ball, the restart is whatever it was going to be anyway.

DEFINITELY not a drop ball situation. As GKBenji notes, there is no such thing as a simultaneous foul...