Rule question. Foul behind a goal line = Penalty?

[Gibraldo]

Hi,

i have a question.

A striker and a defender running parallely at the goalline, ball not out, with the striker at the ball and the defender besides him into the penalty area. Assume, the striker wants to pass to the center with his partner to finish.

Both are inside the penalty box and the striker is quicker, by curving the defender by running BEHIND the goal line. The defender fouls him about 50 centimeters behind the goalline. A foul, that is clear, but a penalty? even if it was not happening inside the penalty box, but 50cm outside of it behind the goal line?

[DWickham]

The book answer is that a foul must be committed on the field of play. If the act was committed entirely outside the field of play, it can be misconduct but it cannot be a foul. The restart would not be a penalty kick.

The referee has to judge the location. FIFA's Q&A has instructed that if a penalty can be awarded when holding begins outside the area and continues into the penalty area. The same could apply to contact that begins behind the goal line and continues into the field of play (or vice versa). In a real life situation, the referee may well conclude that some part of the action by the defender occurred inside the field of play.

[falcon.7]

Well, it cannot be a foul unless it occured on the field of play. Off the field it can be misconduct only.

http://images.ussoccer.com/Documents/cms/ussf/FoulsMisconduct_RestartofPlay.pdf

There was a position paper released by USSF concerning your question. Basically the referee has to decide if the actual contact (i.e. where foot contacts leg and trip occurs). If it is on the field of play, then foul and appropriate restart. If off, then no foul, but possible misconduct. In the situation you describe the AR on that side would most likely be responsible for informing the referee where the contact occured.

[IASocFan]

... The defender fouls him about 50 centimeters behind the goalline. A foul, that is clear, but a penalty? even if it was not happening inside the penalty box, but 50cm outside of it behind the goal line?

A foul can only occur on the field of play while the ball is in play. So it can't be a foul! It's definitely unsporting behaviour, and can be sanctioned as such. A restart if required is from the point where the ball was at the time of the infraction. I would give an IFK to the fouled players team from the point where the ball was at the time of the foul. I couldn't find the law or clarification while searching the LOTG.

[Rufusabc]

I'm visulizing this in my head as I read it....dynamic play along the touchline both players are beyond the line but the ball is not, attacker is prevented from playing the ball by a fouling action by the defender...I would rule in the course of the dynamic play...PENALTY! Might not be strictly kosher, but to me it is within the SOTG. Let them overturn me on appeal. They would have to be so far off the field of play for it not to be a penalty.

R

[DWickham]

A foul can only occur on the field of play while the ball is in play. So it can't be a foul! It's definitely unsporting behaviour, and can be sanctioned as such. A restart if required is from the point where the ball was at the time of the infraction. I would give an IFK to the fouled players team from the point where the ball was at the time of the foul. I couldn't find the law or clarification while searching the LOTG.

Misconduct by a player committed off the field of play requires a dropped ball restart. (ATR 12.25; FIFA Q&A Law 12, Q. 3)

[ref47]

2006 q&a's law 12
10. A player running with the ball sees a defender immediately in front
of him and runs off the fi eld of play to continue playing the ball. The
opponent holds him beyond the touch line to prevent him continuing
his run. What action does the referee take?

Play is stopped and the opponent is cautioned for unsporting behaviour.
Play is restarted with a dropped ball at the place where the ball
was located when play was stopped*.

[USSF REF]

The simple answer is - a foul cannot occur off the field of play. If the play breaks down as you have described misconduct has occurred off the field of play and you must caution (in this case probably a yellow, but I bet you could sell a red if you had to- plus I didn't see it so I can't say for sure, but yellow is my best guess) the defender who committed the misconduct.

THEN play is restarted with a dropped ball at the location where the ball was when play was stopped provided you have taken into account the special circumstances of law 8.

[zeusbrowne]

I would have a tough time imagining this happening where you couldn't make a reasonable case that the defender was on the field.

My interpretation (within the SOTG a la Rufus) would be that if any part of that defender, and by any I mean so much as a corner of his shirtsleeve, was on the field of play, I would call a penalty.

If nothing else, from a game/man management perspective, I'd much rather be in the position of selling that call than the other option given by a strict interpretation of the LOTG.

OTOH, if this question is asked on a written test, VOILA! I will morph instantaneously into a strict interpretationist.:D

[LoewenBoy]

but 50cm outside of it behind the goal line?
Hmmm....50cm is around 20 inches or so. Sure the book answer is no PK, you always have "if in the opinion of the referee....".:D

Perhaps you saw it on the line instead of 50cms outside the field of play.:D;) (I jest)