Advantage
What is the advantage rule in soccer?
Soccer referees have the authority to not call an obvious foul that would disadvantage the team who did not commit it, according to the advantage rule.
The advantage rule in soccer states that when a referee believes a team has been fouled, they can choose to play on and allow the advantage rather than stopping play for a free kick.
This rule allows players to continue their attack and potentially score even after being fouled. The idea behind this rule is that it allows the game to flow more naturally, instead of being stopped every time a foul is committed.
The defending team may sometimes commit a professional foul in order to stop the momentum of the attacking team. This is where the advantage rule can even things up and give the offensive players the ability to continue their attack even if a player has been fouled or even brought to the ground.
The referee will signal for play to continue and call, “Play-on”, despite appeals from the players for a free-kick to be given. This is because he feels that the team in possession already has the advantage of a passing or goal-scoring opportunity.
How long is an advantage played?
An advantage in soccer should only last a few seconds or ends when the player fouled or their teammate successfully plays the ball to another player. After an advantage has finished and the play has stopped or left the field of play, the referee may decide to go back and caution the player who committed the foul.
On rare occasions, a red card can also be given after the advantage rule has been player, if the offense is serious enough.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this rule in Soccer?
The biggest advantage is always given to the offensive team as they keep possession of the ball and can continue their attack. The attacking opportunity can be easier as the defensive team may be disorganized and unprepared to stop the attack.
However, as these types of fouls are usually committed to stop play, the player fouled could pick up a serious injury and not be treated as play continues and the medical team cannot enter onto the pitch.
Can you play the advantage rule on a penalty?
Yes, but this is a rare occurrence as the chances of the attacking team keeping possession in the penalty area after a foul are slim.
This clip below shows a perfect example of the advantage rule being applied in a game between Rangers and Celtic. The referee acted in the best interests of the game by playing on and allowing a goal-scoring opportunity, which resulted in a goal to Rangers and the Celtic offending plater to be booked afterwards:
In summary, the advantage rule in soccer is an important tool that allows referees to keep play going rather than stopping it for every foul. This allows the game to flow more naturally and gives attacking teams the opportunity to capitalize on any defensive errors.
The rule should only be applied when there is a clear advantage and referees must be careful not to allow play to continue for too long, as this could cause injury.