Double Jeopardy

Words not written in IFAB’s Laws of the Game, but very much a critical reference to changes and amendments to law in the last few seasons. For reference, “double jeopardy” is a legal protection against the use of multiple forms of prosecution. In general, a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime based on the same conduct. Prominent in the US Legal System, but present conceptually around the world, and made famous by the film of the same name, starring Tommy Lee Jones.

What does this have to do with football and refereeing?

Over recent seasons the LotG evolved to account for widespread opinion among football stakeholders – players, referees, and fans alike – that some red cards associated with DOGSO, whilst correct in law, were disproportionate to the offence committed; or the manner of the offence.

For example, non-deliberate handball offences are usually the result of a player attempting to play fairly, so when a penalty kick is awarded for such offences, the same philosophy should apply as for offences (fouls) which are an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball.

Accordingly, law has evolved to consider what is widely referred to as double jeopardy.

However, this evolution, whilst fair and in keeping with the spirit of the game, has introduced a degree of complexity, and a number of variables that referees must be aware of in DOGSO situations. To help with clarity and consistency, the table below summarises the key offences and outcomes.

TL/DR : You award a penalty for…

			DOGSO	SPA
Foul Challenge	Genuine attempt to play or challenge for the ball	Careless	Caution	No card
		Reckless	Caution	Caution
		Excessive (SFP)	Red card	Red card
	Non-genuine attempt	Careless	Red card	Caution
		Reckless	Red card	Caution
		Excessive (SFP)	Red card	Red card
Handball	Deliberate		Red card	Caution
	Non deliberate		Caution	No card
	Natural position		No offence

There is no consideration of double jeopardy for any instance of DOGSO or SPA outside of the penalty area, discipline will be red card and caution respectively.

The Laws of the Game

Cautions for Unsporting Behaviour

• handles the ball to interfere with or stop a promising attack, except where the referee awards a penalty kick for a non-deliberate handball offence
• denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick for a non-deliberate handball offence
• commits any other offence which interferes with or stops a promising attack, except where the referee awards a penalty kick for an offence which was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball
• denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing an offence which was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball and the referee awards a penalty kick

Sending-off offences 

• denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate handball offence (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area)
• denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-deliberate handball offence outside their own penalty area 
• denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent whose overall movement is towards the offender’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick (unless as outlined below) 

Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)

Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.), the offending player must be sent off

Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate handball offence, the player is sent off wherever the offence occurs (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area). 

Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-deliberate handball offence and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned.

Amendments 2024-25

Non-deliberate handball offences are usually the result of a player attempting to play fairly, so when a penalty kick is awarded for such offences, the same philosophy should apply as for offences (fouls) which are an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball, i.e. DOGSO offences result in a yellow card and SPA offences result in no card. Deliberate handball remains a red-card offence when a penalty kick is awarded, as it is similar to holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc. 

Genuine or non-genuine

These law updates empower referees to officiate penalty DOGSO/SPA instances with the spirit of the game at the forefront of their mind. And whilst you may question how you can judge foul play to be genuine or non-deliberate, or otherwise, our best advice is: don’t overthink it.

The law very clearly stipulates examples of foul play that does not constitute fair play – e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball

Providing you have a good angle and proximity, you will be well placed to trust your gut instincts, consider the reactions of the players, and balance the expectations of the game in that moment.

Exempt from Double Jeopardy

Certain offences are of such severity they do not allow for any mitigation under “double jeopardy”. Regardless of any perceived attempt to play or challenge for the ball, if the manner of the challenge meets or exceeds the thresholds for reckless play and serious foul play, they must be disciplined with a caution and red card respectively. Similarly, a caution for “persistent” would not be mitigated by double jeopardy.

• Serious foul play
  A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.
• Reckless Play 
  When a player acts with disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, an opponent and must be cautioned