An attacking player in an offside position receives the ball, moves into the penalty area and falls to the ground (pretends to have been fouled). The assistant referee raises the flag and indicates offside. What is the referee’s decision?

THE DECISION

The referee stops play and awards an indirect free kick to the defending team where the offside offence occurred. The act of 'simulation' is unsporting behaviour and must be punished with a caution (yellow card) regardless of whether it is successful or not, or if play is stopped for another reason.