The answer given is: "If an application of the advantage clause is not possible, and play is stopped for the offence, the defender should be cautioned and restart play with a drop ball at the position of the ball when the infringement was committed, except if it is within the goal area at the time, in which case it shall be dropped on that part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was when play was stopped. If the advantage was applied the offending defender would still be cautioned when the ball was next out of play."
Over the ensuing months a series of articles have been published in Touchlines titled 'A Question of Interpretation' in trying to answer this query.
Dave Churchley, one of the Society members makes a reasoned case case for restarting play with an indirect free kick at the position of the ball when the infringement was committed as he describes in an article on page 2 of Touchlines, the Society's magazine.
In the March copy of Touchlines on page 4 the Society's Training Officer elaborates why play should start with a dropped ball. In the same edition of Touchlines we are advised that David Crick, County RA Secretary raised the query with the Chairman of the RA's Instructional & Publications Committee for an 'official' opionion. His response is in the March Touchlines on page 9 and supports Dave Churchley's view that play should restart with an indirect free kick!
In the April copy of Touchlines on page 4 the Society's Training Officer responds!
