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Advantage

Calling advantage allows a referee to not hamper the actions of the offense even though the defense has committed a foul. Allowing or disallowing advantage can effect the entire outcome of a game. Learn this rule and all its contingencies by heart.

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Allows play to continue when the team against which an offense has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalizes the original offense if the anticipated advantage did not ensue at that time.

Once decided, the referee may revoke their decision if the presumed advantage does not materialize. The foul "Goes Away" unless the referee decides, within 2-3 seconds, that the original advantage did not materialize.

Misconduct must always be punished. You may caution or send-off a player at the next stoppage of play.

The idea of advantage is to not penalize the offense by stopping play - if the offense is fouled but not hampered in its attack, let the play continue.

Advantage is called at the Referee's discretion. It is a judgment call that cannot be argued or questioned by the players or captains.

The best tool a soccer official can have is a "patient whistle". Do not be in a hurry to stop the action. Let the play develop, know the whole context of the game and its flow.

It is important to make the advantage call known to the entire field. With a large sweeping gesture - throw your arms out in front of your body. Loudly declare, "Play on!"

Signaling this call with authority will lessen the risk of argument or confusion. If one official calls advantage, the other officials should not then whistle the play dead.

Loudly declaring advantage will let the players and other officials know that you saw the illegal contact or foul and that it is being dealt with.

Should the fouled player not receive an advantage (i.e. lose the ball or be slowed down) the official that called advantage must stop the play. Once play is stopped bring the ball to the original spot of the foul. A free kick will be granted.

If the waived off foul is dangerous, reckless or unsportsmanlike in nature the player must be cautioned or sent off. In such circumstances, after the play has ended or the advantage not materialized, the official should stop play and card the player.

Example of the Advantaged Call

The Play
Defensive player wants the attack on the goal stopped. They foul the attacker, but the attacker is not stopped by the foul.

Advantage
If the referee stops the game for that foul, then the referee is doing the defender's job for them (stopping attack). Thus the "advantage" would have gone to the player committing the foul.