Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and stopping a promising attack

What is an obvious goal-scoring opportunity?

To judge whether a foul denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, the referee considers four things together:

• The distance between the offence and the goal.
• The general direction of play, if it's heading towards goal.
• The likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball.
• The location and number of defenders who could intervene.

If they are clearly met, the foul denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. If any is missing, it's probably a promising attack.

Sanction outside the area

Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity with a foul outside the area is a sending-off. Stopping a promising attack is a caution.

Inside the area: the reduced sanction

Because the attacking team already gets a penalty kick, the Law reduces the disciplinary sanction when the foul is a genuine attempt to play or challenge for the ball:

• Obvious goal-scoring opportunity denied while attempting to play the ball: penalty and a yellow card.
• Promising attack stopped while attempting to play the ball: penalty and no card.

The reduction doesn't apply, and the sanction is the same as outside the area, when the defender holds, pushes or pulls, has no possibility of playing the ball, or commits serious foul play.

Handball that denies a goal

A deliberate handball that denies a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity is a sending-off anywhere on the pitch, except for the goalkeeper inside their own penalty area.

And if there's advantage

If the referee lets play continue and the attacking team takes advantage, the sanction for the original foul can change. We explain it in the advantage guide.