PM: Chas - laws of football...

Law 5 is not very detailed about advantage, but the interpretation of law guidelines offer some more advice;
In summary it is about considering all circumstances at the time (not easy in a split second!) and the position on the field of the offence, the severity of the offence, the atmosphere of the match and even the ability of the teams all play a part.

For a caution, it can be issued at the next stoppage if the advantage is very obvious and clear. For a send off, even for 2nd yellow, advice is normally stop the play, whatever the circumstances... unless 99% chance of a goal being scored, then do it after.

In reality it's ref judgement and over my 15 years I always erred on the side of blowing up and issuing the caution or send off. I'm sure I got plenty wrong too... that's the way it goes!

If, in the unlikely event that I'd played advantage, it came to nothing and the offender then looked like he was going to create/score, I'd stop the game and do the necessary. Better that than a player who shouldn't be on the field scoring a goal!! It would certainly be discussed afterwards by The Assessor and he'd want to know why it had gone that way... and I'd lose some marks.

Not sure that answers the question fully, but there are lots of things that aren't black and white 🙁

Posted By: Worthing Yellow, Apr 23, 23:14:13