A player is instructed by the referee to leave the field of play and change their footwear. When the ball is in play, the player argues with a photographer outside the field and attempts to strike the photographer. The referee stops play for this incident. What is the correct decision?

Question

Accepted Answer

The player is sent off (red card) for violent conduct. Play is restarted with a dropped ball as outlined in Law 8. A free kick cannot be awarded because the player left the field of play with the referee’s permission and the offence was not committed against someone on the team lists or a match official.