What occurs if the referee believes there was an unfair advantage gained through net contact?

When the referee determines that a team gained an unfair advantage through contact with the net, the correct course of action is to call for a replay. This decision acknowledges that the contact may have interfered with the outcome of the play, potentially affecting the team’s ability to compete fairly. A replay allows for the situation to be reassessed without penalizing either team for an unintentional mistake, ensuring that the game maintains its fairness and integrity.

In contrast, assessing a penalty would generally mean that one team is being punished for the contact, which might not accurately reflect the situation where the contact was deemed incidental. Ignoring the contact does not address the potential unfair advantage, and consulting with other referees might be unnecessary if the referee has enough information to make a judgment on his own. By opting for a replay, the referee can maintain the flow of the game while ensuring that fairness is prioritized in the officiating process.