2007 ATR: 12.25 RESTARTS FOR MISCONDUCT If play is stopped solely to deal with misconduct committed by a player on the field, the proper restart is an indirect free kick taken from the location of the misconduct*. If play is stopped solely to deal with misconduct committed by a substitute, for misconduct committed off the field of play, the restart is an indirect free kick taken from where the ball was when play was stopped*. If play was stopped for team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner , the restart is a dropped ball where the ball was when play was stopped*. If play is stopped for a foul in addition to misconduct, the restart is determined by the foul. The restart cannot be a direct free kick unless the reason for the stoppage included a direct free kick foul. If misconduct occurs while play is stopped, the restart is determined by the original reason for the stoppage. SUGGESTED CHANGES: (red: text to delete, blue: text to add, green: comment) 12.25 RESTARTS FOR MISCONDUCT If play is stopped solely to deal with misconduct committed by a player on the field on the field by a player, the proper restart is an indirect free kick taken from the location of the misconduct*. (This reflects an insignificant semantic difference only.) If the misconduct by the player occurs on the field of play against a substitute or player who re-entered the field without permission, this is taken into account and the restart is an indirect free kick for the opponent of person who improperly entered the field taken from where the ball was when play was stopped*. (Okay, I am not quite sure about this. Obviously, there have been two misconducts, so play is not being stopped solely for one misconduct. Since the re-entering player committed misconduct first, I would venture that it is his opponent who gets the restart. In the case of Violent Conduct, Law 12 (Interpretation) states: If the ball is in play and a player commits an offence inside the field of play against a substitute or substituted player, play is restarted with an indirect free kick from the position in which the ball was located when play was stopped (see Law 13 – Position of Free Kick) The LOTG do not indicate which side gets the IFK if the substitute or substituted player was an opponent. 2006 Q&A 3.8: A substitute enters the field of play without having obtained the permission of the referee, and his team plays with an extra player. While the ball is in play, an opponent violently punches him. What action should the referee take? The referee stops play, sends off the player guilty of violent conduct, cautions the substitute for unsporting behaviour and instructs him to leave the field of play. The match is restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team where the ball was when play was stopped *. Again, who gets the IFK is not completely clear. 2000 Q&A 3.13: A substitute enters the field of play without having obtained the permission of the referee, and his team plays with an extra player. While the ball is in play, an opponent punches him. What action should the referee take? The referee stops play, sends off the player guilty of violent conduct, cautions the substitute for entering the field of play without the permission of the referee and restart the game by an indirect free-kick against the team of the substitute at the place where the infringement occurred.*. At least this Q&A was clear about who gets the restart. If the player off the field of play without permission was an opponent, the misconduct would usually be considered a foul, and the restart would be according to the foul.) If the misconduct by the player occurs on the field of play against a team official or outside agent, this is taken into account and the restart is a dropped ball from where the ball was when play was stopped*. If play is stopped solely to deal with misconduct committed by a substitute, for misconduct committed off the field of play, the restart is an indirect free kick taken from where the ball was when play was stopped*. (This is incorrect. The restart in this case is a dropped ball.) If play is stopped solely to deal with misconduct committed on the field of play by a substitute or a player who has re-entered the field without permission, the restart is an indirect free kick taken from where the ball was when play was stopped*. If the substitute or player who re-entered the field without permission committed a cautionable offense in addition to entering the field, a second caution and send-off should be issued. (Again, if the player off the field of play without permission was an opponent, the misconduct would usually be considered a foul, and the restart would be according to the foul. Before 2006, the Law 3 restart for a substitute entering the field was a dropped ball.) If play was stopped for team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner , the restart is a dropped ball where the ball was when play was stopped*. (While true, Law 12 does not directly consider acts committed by team officials or outside agents.) If play is stopped solely to deal with misconduct committed off the field by a player or substitute, the restart is a dropped ball taken from where the ball was when play was stopped *. If a player leaves the field to commit the act, this is taken into account and the restart is an indirect free kick for his opponent taken from where the ball was when play was stopped. (For Violent Conduct, Law 12 (Interpretation) states: If the ball is in play and the offence occurred outside the field of play: – if the player leaves the field of play to commit the offence, play is restarted with an indirect free kick from the position in which the ball was located when play was stopped. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the laws to state whether nor not this applies to other forms of misconduct.) If play is stopped for a foul (either by a player or a player who has returned to the field without permission) in addition to misconduct, the restart is determined by the foul. The restart cannot be a direct free kick unless the reason for the stoppage included a direct free kick foul. If misconduct occurs while play is stopped, the restart is determined by the original reason for the stoppage. (The ATR uses “substitute” to refer to both substitutes and substituted players; I have done the same.) Ask a Soccer Referee: RESTARTS AFTER CAUTIONS March 13, 2008 Question: I know if a player is given a caution, you restart with the nature of the infraction; however, what if the ball is out of play when the caution is given? USSF answer (March 13, 2008): 1. When play is stopped for an offense which is both a foul and misconduct, the restart is based on the foul, not the misconduct. 2. When play is stopped for an offense which is only misconduct (no foul involved), the restart is not based on the nature of the misconduct. It is based on who committed the misconduct and where was it committed. - If the misconduct was committed by a player on the field, the restart is an indirect free kick where the misconduct was committed (subject to the special rules in Law 8). - If the misconduct was committed by anyone off the field, the restart is a dropped ball where the ball was when play was stopped (subject to the special rules in Law 8). 3. If the misconduct consists of a player illegally re-entering the field or a substitute illegally entering the field, the restart is an indirect free kick where the ball was when play was stopped (subject to the special rules in Law 8). 4. If the misconduct occurs during a stoppage of play, the restart is based on whatever stopped play in the first place. If advantage is applied to the misconduct, play is allowed to continue, play then stops, and a card for the misconduct is given, the restart is based on whatever stopped play in the first place. LOTG Law 3 (Interpretation): Player outside the field of play If, after leaving the field of play to correct unauthorised equipment or kit, to be treated for an injury or bleeding, because he has blood on his kit or for any other reason with the referee’s permission, a player re-enters the field of play without the referee’s permission, the referee must: • stop play (although not immediately if the player does not interfere with play or if the advantage can be applied) • caution the player for entering the field of play without permission • order the player to leave the field of play if necessary (e.g. infringement of Law 4) If the referee stops play, it must be restarted: • with an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the position of the ball when play was stopped (see Law 13 – Position of Free Kick) if there is no other infringement • in accordance with Law 12 if the player infringes this Law