A defender recklessly tackles an attacker. The referee applies advantage because the attacker quickly gets up and continues running with the ball. The defender then chases the attacker, pulls their shirt and thus stops a promising attack (SPA) outside the penalty area. What is the correct decision?

THE DECISION

The referee stops play and awards a direct free kick from the position of the shirt-pulling offence. Since two separate cautionable offences have occurred, even though close together, the defender must receive two cautions: one for the reckless challenge and another for SPA. The defender is therefore shown two yellow cards, followed by a red card, and is sent off.