A defender competes with an attacker for the ball and commits a reckless foul in the middle of the field. After that, the players fall to the ground and the attacker bites the defender. What is the correct decision?

THE DECISION

The referee stops play and awards a direct free kick against the defender’s team because the first offence is penalised. Both players must receive the appropriate disciplinary sanction: * the defender is cautioned (yellow card) for the reckless challenge * the attacker is sent off (red card) for biting the opponent