The advantage rule lets play continue after an offence when the non-offending team will benefit. If the advantage does not come at that time or within a few seconds, the referee penalises the original offence. It also applies to a restart taken incorrectly once the ball is in play.
When advantage applies
The rule has two linked parts. First, the referee allows play to continue when an offence occurs and the non-offending team will benefit from the advantage. Second, if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time or within a few seconds, the referee penalises the offence or orders a retake.
The same rule covers a restart taken incorrectly once the ball is in play. In both situations the question is the same: will the non-offending team benefit if play carries on?
How the referee decides what happens next
The waiting period is short: the advantage has to ensue at that time or within a few seconds. For example, a player who has been carelessly tackled gets up quickly and regains the ball, but another opponent immediately kicks it out of play for a throw-in. The team has not benefited, so the referee returns to the original offence and awards a direct free kick from where the tackle happened.
When advantage cannot or should not be played
Advantage cannot be played when the team cannot benefit from it. It should also not be applied in situations involving serious foul play, violent conduct or a second cautionable offence, unless there is a clear opportunity to score a goal.
For example, an attacker passes to a team-mate in an offside position and, immediately after that, is recklessly tackled by a defender outside the penalty area; the team-mate receives the ball a few seconds later. Because the team-mate was offside, the attacking team could not benefit from advantage, so the referee stops play, cautions the defender and awards a direct free kick for the foul, which happened before the offside offence.
After denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
These are the outcomes when advantage is played after an offence that denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
| What happened next | The offender |
|---|---|
| The attacking team scored as a result of the advantage, and no serious foul play or violent conduct | Not cautioned or sent off for that offence; the goal stands |
| No goal, and no serious foul play or violent conduct | Cautioned for unsporting behaviour |
The split turns on whether a goal follows, and both branches assume there was no other sending-off offence such as serious foul play or violent conduct. If the attack ends with a goal, the goal is awarded and there is no caution or sending-off for that offence. If no goal follows, the offender is cautioned for unsporting behaviour. If the challenge was also serious foul play, the offender is sent off even though the goal stands.
FAQ
How long does the referee wait before going back?
Only a few seconds. The anticipated advantage has to ensue at that time or within a few seconds; if it does not, the referee goes back to the original offence.
Can the referee go back to a foul after playing advantage?
Yes. If the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time or within a few seconds, the referee returns to the original offence and penalises it.
Does playing advantage mean there cannot be a card?
No. If the offence would have brought a caution or a sending-off had play been stopped, that card must still be given when the ball is next out of play. There are exceptions. After an offence that denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, and provided there was no other sending-off offence such as serious foul play or violent conduct, a goal scored as a result of the advantage means no card for that offence, while no goal means a caution for unsporting behaviour. A player is not cautioned for interfering with or stopping a promising attack, though a reckless challenge is still cautioned.
What if two offences happen at the same time?
The referee punishes the more serious one. Seriousness is judged by sanction, restart, physical severity and tactical impact.
Can advantage be played after a throw-in taken incorrectly?
Yes, but only if the ball entered the field of play and the opposing team will benefit from play continuing, for example because they have gained possession. If the ball entered the field and advantage is not applied, the opposing team takes the throw-in. If the ball did not directly enter the field, the same team retakes the throw-in.