An attacker takes a shot and is then recklessly tackled by a defender. The contact occurs before the ball leaves the field of play. What is the correct decision?

THE DECISION

The referee awards a direct free kick (or penalty kick if the offence occurred inside the defender’s penalty area) and cautions the defender (yellow card). The fact that the reckless tackle occurred after the shot was taken is irrelevant because the ball was still in play at the time of the offence.