Common sense?

On Sunday blues winning 2-1 with 5mins to go when blue winger is passed to, linesman raises his flag for I offside which I disagree with, I acknowledge the flag but let play continue. The winger crosses the ball when the centre back catches the ball as he has seen the flag thinking its offside.

Naturally, I had to give a pen, play to the whistle and all that and didn't have much of a protest as I hadn't blown for offside. BUT it then occurred to me deliberate handball in the area and should card him. I didn't card him as although foolish not to play to the whistle I felt a bit sorry for him. Penalty converted blues win 3-1 so looking back the card wouldn't have changed anything.

Would you have booked the centre back?

If you're being assessed, you have to card him.

If you're not, then i think Law 18 can apply. Although was there a DOGSO offence to consider?

Was this open age as what an utter plank if it was! At really young level I've seen boys catch the ball if it's going to hit them in the face, but literally I'm talking u9 sort of level. Even then they look really embarrassed.

Deliberate handball in the penalty area is not a mandatory caution. Other conditions may make it is so; for instance if it is a tactical foul - breaking up a promising attack. Or it denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity, which is of course a red.

I can see the sense in applying law 18 in some circumstances though if it's a nothing decision either way

Since when do you have to caution a player for a deliberate handling of the ball in the penalty area?

Ryan Owens said:

Since when do you have to caution a player for a deliberate handling of the ball in the penalty area?

Click to expand...

Hey that's just plagiarising my post!

Iv seen a few posts on here which state that Linesmen are provided by the club and get to call offside. I have never had this up here in Scotland. We normally call offside our self? Regarding the above I think common sense is the correct way to go. Be a very brave ref who gives a pen and a card(partic if it was a red) to the defender.

DaveMac said:

Was this open age as what an utter plank if it was! At really young level I've seen boys catch the ball if it's going to hit them in the face, but literally I'm talking u9 sort of level. Even then they look really embarrassed.

Click to expand...

i had a game where attacker went down in the box

i decided it wasn't a pen and shouted play on. unfortunately, for him, one of the defender's team-mates had decided that it was a penalty and caught the ball.

no card given, but penalty was nailed on