if

[navi tasan]

"A penalty kick will be awarded, irrespective of the position of the ball, if in play, when a foul is committed in the goal area."

What is the subject of "if in play"? I think it is short for "if the ball is in play". But can the "shortened" if clause refer to anything else but the subject?

[Francois]

The "if in play" refers to the ball indeed:

"irrespective of the position of the ball, if in play,"
That is, the ball can be anywhere, but if must be in play.

FRC

[Tdol]

It refers to the ball.