Understanding Advantage Play

Referees are reminded to have empathy on players and also the coach of the receiving side of the player being fouled but at the same time the laws state that it is the duty of the referee “to allow play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalizes the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time” (FIFA Laws 5). When the referee points out both his arms without blowing his whistle it simply means that the referee has noticed the foul. However, he may also have decided to play advantage the player fouled if there is a chance for scoring. Normally, the referee will give around 3 seconds to determine who comes out on top. If, at the end of the 3 seconds, an advantage was gained by the fouled team, such as possession being kept or a goal being scored, the foul will be ignored by the referee. If the foul warranted a card, however, he will show the card at the next stoppage in play. The referee shall play the advantage even if it was a serious foul that merits a red card if is a situation of a goal scoring opportunity.
Sometimes it is difficult to respect the soccer referee, particularly when he makes a bad decision that gives an advantage to the opposing team. Still it would be impossible to play the game without him. The fact is that a lot of the players who don't respect the rules are sometimes prone to unsporting behavior. More often coaches would jump up if his player was fouled and the referee did not stop play for it but often forget to appreciate the referee if, from the advantage given a goal has resulted by the team-mate or a good attacking move was gained. I wonder it is natural for coaches to see the bad in the referee when his team loses or to find a ‘scapegoat’ for his or his team’s failure. One said. “If we didn’t see that six yellow cards in the first half, we would have seen some nasty performance tonight. So I have nothing else to say about the referee”. This statement can imply appreciation but not openly spelt. Players and referees are human and everyone makes mistake. When players make mistake it is accepted but not the referee. Although referees are allowed to make mistake but the mistake should be at the expense of the team or changes the result of the match. If both parties can bear the small mistake, the learning process will be enhanced and both refereeing and football will benefit from the higher level in officiating and playing skills.