Advantage inside the penalty area is a very rare occurrence, as we are taught to only let play continue only when there is a very high likelihood the attacking team will score. As penalty kicks are converted at an 92% rate at the highest levels, referees should be at least that sure that an advantage within the penalty area will result in a goal.
So it was a quite rare seen indeed to see referee Chris Foy allow play to continue in a recent match between Arsenal and Newcastle United.
Aresnal’s The Walcott (14) managed to squirm between three Newcastle defenders in the penalty area but was fouled in the process and fell to the ground. As the Newcastle defenders began to look at the referee to complain – expecting he was going to award a penalty – Walcott quickly got back to his feet and chipped the ball over Newcastle goalkeeper into the goal.
Referee Foy raised his arms to signal advantage, leaving the Newcastle defenders to ponder their decision not to play to the whistle.
The key learning point here is the same as for all situations where a foul occurs: waiting that extra second before blowing the whistle can pay huge dividends.
In The Opinion Of The Referee 
18 responses to “Case Study: Advantage in the Penalty Area”
Well done yesterday by Foy…
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He was incredibly lucky that it resulted in a goal instead of a mass confrontation
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Lucky indeed! I dread the day when this happens to me and I have to quickly decide whether “play on” is more advantageous then “PK”. I didn’t see this in action but the stills sure do make it appear as though the attacker had a less than 92% chance of scoring from there. Especially when the first foul occurred. I’m not convinced the ref got this one right.
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If the advantage didn’t materialize then I imagine that the referee would’ve been able to point to the spot anyways and claim that there wasn’t an advantage to played in the first place…?
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Absolutely correct Bradley
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I’ve been told that advantage materializes when the attacker has an opportunity to score – not the goal itself. So in this case the attacker had his advantage. If he misses or the shot is saved and then the ref blows the whistle, as a defender I would ask “are you now giving him advantage twice?”.
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My advice to referees in this circumstance: W-A-I-T for it.
My comeback to anyone arguing the delay in blowing my whistle–“It takes a moment to get the whistle to my mouth.”
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It was an excellent delay to give Theo his hat trick. To take that opportunity away from any player would have been a shame.
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RT @itootrdotcom: A new case study, Advantage in the Penalty Area is now available at http://t.co/XH3k1mYN
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This was a gutsy call that would only be called in a high level professional or amateur level game by an experienced referee; one that referees at the youth or even high school level would probably never call. However, I think this provides a lesson for all referees which is: it is always better to delay the whistle for an extra second to see what happens be it advantage or off sides or any penalty requiring stoppage and a direct or indirect free kick.
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Excellent Case Study…Reminds me of my R7 Upgrade – U19 Tournament Championship at the conclusion of a Referee Academy Weekend.
Black team advances into the penalty area where the player is fouled by the Keeper but retains possession – “Advantage!” He passes to a nearby teammate who is in a perfect position to shoot, but chooses to dribble away from the goal (what?!). The Keeper recovers and subsequently fouls the other player who is still dribbling away from the goal, but in the penalty area. Big Whistle, point and run to the spot…PK.
I look up to see the Assessor standing just off the End Line at that end, clipboard in hand, vigorously taking notes. I look at my watch – 0:52 seconds into the match…great. I knew I’d either just passed or failed the upgrade so the rest of the game was easy. 😉 The Black team scored on the penalty kick, the Red team later missed a PK, and the match/tournament ended in overtime, then kicks from the mark.
The first question from the Assessor in the debrief was “Tell me about the first minute of the match.” “Advantage on the first foul by the Keeper which the Black team used by passing to a player in a perfect position to score. Foul, No Advantage, Yellow for Persistent Infringement on the Keeper for the second foul (yeah, I know it was only two); no DOGSO because the player was not advancing to the goal.”
I’d not really considered “Advantage in the Box” up to that point, but it was crystal clear to me when it happened so it’s not just the high school or professional refs who make the gutsy call…even a blind nut finds a squirrel every now and then.
BTW, I passed the upgrade…LOL
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Michael Robotham liked this on Facebook.
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Sergio Vasile liked this on Facebook.
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Larry Metz liked this on Facebook.
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Fletch Moto liked this on Facebook.
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I definitely understand the advantage here. I just don’t like the double jeopardy affect. If the player hadn’t scored of his legitimate shot, one where he had a clean touch on the ball with out interference, I wouldn’t be able to give him the foul that I gave advantage for. It is the right time to give advantage, and if he had missed the shot, it would of been his fault, and yes, the attacking team then would of been mad for not calling the fouls, lol. That’s part of being a referee.
see you on the pitch.
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Daniel Fahey liked this on Facebook.
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Gutsy but correct. I hope I am in a position someday to see if I have the fortitude to follow this rule.
All the best!
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