"Our Goal is Fair Play"
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VIOLENT CONDUCT AND SERIOUS FOUL PLAY:
Putting it simply when the action is against an opponent on the field of play and the ball is in play it is deemed SERIOUS FOUL PLAY. When it is towards any other person it is deemed VIOLENT CONDUCT. The following table should help you in making your decision depending upon whether the ball is in play or not and whether the action takes place on the field or not:
| WHERE OFFENCE WAS COMMITTED | WHERE BALL WAS WHEN OFFENCE WAS COMMITTED | DECISION/RESTART | VIOLENT ACTION TOWARDS OPPONENT | VIOLENT ACTION TOWARDS ANY OTHER PERSON |
| On the field of play | Ball in play | Decision | Serious Foul Play. Stop the game and send player off. | Violent Conduct. Stop the game and send player off. |
| On the field of play | Ball in play | Restart | Direct Free Kick or Penalty. | Indirect Free Kick. |
| On the field of play | Ball out of play | Decision | Violent Conduct. Send player off. | Violent Conduct. Send player off. |
| On the field of play | Ball out of play | Restart | In usual manner. | In the usual manner. |
| Off the field of play | Ball in play | Decision | Violent Conduct. Stop the game and send player off. | Violent Conduct. Stop the game and send player off. |
| Off the field of play | Ball in play | Restart | Drop Ball. | Drop Ball. |
| Off the field of play | Ball out of play | Decision | Violent Conduct. Send player off. | Violent Conduct. Send player off. |
| Off the field of play | Ball out of play | Restart | In usual manner. | In usual manner. |
Below are interactive slide presentations which incorporate the text from FIFA, IFAB and FFA publications formatted to assist with Level 1 and 2 theory examinations. They are are also useful for new Level 3 and 4 referees who wish to further their knowledge and understanding of the laws of the world game.
Note:
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Please click on the PowerPoint Symbol to run each interactive slide presentation. Be patient as they are large files and will take a while to load.
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To interact with each slide presentation click your mouse button to scroll through the questions and to see the answers. After the interactive slide presentation has finished use your browser back button to return to this page (click on the browser back button).
| Restart of Play Interactive Slide Presentation |
Restarts |
| Offside Rule Interactive Slide Presentation |
Offside Rule Examples |
| Gamesmanship (unsporting ploys) Slide Presentation |
Gamesmanship |
| The Benches (Tips to reduce misconduct) Slide Presentation |
The Benches |
| Positioning - Getting the Angle of View Slide Presentation |
Getting the Angle of View |
| Referees' Positioning - USA Soccer Federation Slide Presentation |
Proper Positioning |
