A defender carelessly tackles an attacker outside the penalty area. What is the correct decision if this foul denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)?

THE DECISION

The referee stops play and awards a direct free kick to the attacking team. Although the tackle was ‘only’ careless, the defender is sent off (red card, RC) because the referee punishes the more serious offence (all DOGSO offences committed outside the offender’s penalty area result in a RC). For DOGSO offences it is the tactical impact that is the determining factor not the (physical) seriousness of the offence.