Penalty for repeat infringements

In a lot of matches it happens that the referee gives a penalty for an infringement that occurs many times during a match. The reaction of players and public is a reaction of incomprehension. Why did the referee give a penalty on that occasion while on other occasions the same infringement was only punished with a free pass? Such a decision often causes a lot of commotion, not only by the players but also by the public. Among the public only attentive and knowledgeable spectators understand that the penalty is given for a repeatedly infringement.

§ 20a of the playing rules gives the referee the opportunity to award a penalty if defenders repeatedly makes infringements which prevent the attacker from obtaining scoring chances. It is important that there is a matter of infringements repeatedly hindering the play of the attackers in an improper way.

A number of referees bring problems on themselves because they doesn't indicate that the penalty has been given for making infringements repeatedly. Many referees only point to the penalty spot whilst some others give some form of signal by raising two fingers.

The referee can prevent a lot of problems if he is clear in the decisions he makes. It is for that reason that the PRC will soon introduce obligatory referee signals. In that way the referee can communicate with players and the public concerning his decisions.

Awarding a penalty for repeated infringements is one of the situations in which the referee must not only be clear but seen to be clear. For that reason the PRC strongly recommends to all referees, before they award a penalty for repeated infringements, to first warn a player that he will give a penalty for his next infringement. At the moment he actually awards the penalty the referee should raise two fingers of one hand to indicate that the penalty concerned repeated infringements. In that way it is clear for the player concerned, all the other players, the coaches and the spectators why he has given a penalty.

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