While the ball is in play, in the middle of the field, a defender starts a fight with an attacker and strikes the opposing player in the defender’s penalty area. What is the referee’s decision?

THE DECISION

If the first offence was by the defender in their penalty area and the ball was in play, it is a penalty kick – it does not matter where the ball was when the offence occurred as long as it was in play. The defender is sent off (red card) for violent conduct.