Question Number: 12247

Law 15 - Throw In 2/22/2006

RE: Professional

Martin Daniel of Birmingham, England asks...

"Can any part of the foot be on the pitch when taking a throw-in?" I have asked this question and been categorically told that as long as part of the foot (even the heel) is in CONTACT with the touch-line then it is a legal throw-in.

What did I see this weekend (FA cup)? An assistant referee flag for the foot being over the touch-line. The camera angle wasn't obvious but it looked like the heel was ON the touch-line. The commentataor just said the assistant referee has "eagle eyes" to spot the infringment.
What infringemant?

Please,please who is right?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You were told correctly. As long as ANY part of EACH foot is on any part of the touchline, the throw is legal. If the AR saw all of the foot over the line, then his call is technically correct. That said, at this high level of play, rarely is a questionable foot placement called. Of course, it goes without saying that the feet may be behind the touchline also

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Law 15 requires the thrower to have part of each foot either on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline. The Law does not specify how much of the foot qualifies as "part or the foot". I saw a foul throw given in the Arsenal v. Real Madrid match last weekend and wondered what happened. If the Assistant Referee saw a foot loose contact with the touchline he is within the Law to call the Referee's attention to it.

The penalty is a throw-in to the opponents of the player unable to comply with the Law. Hardly ever happens! But when if does commentators usually get their knickers all in a twist and say something cute. Assistant Referees are paid much less than commentators and have a much harder job as well. Evidence of this is the commentator having time to offer advice to the Assistant...

This is simply a fact connected with play, the Referee took a decision and that should have settled that. Guess it didn't...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

My colleagues are spot on!
Foot position is a relative minor thing unless the entire foot/feet? is/are clearly into the FOP with no discernable contact with the touchline.
Throw in as a method to restart play when no foul or misconduct occurred are gauged in a similar way as a keeper on a punt out might be in carrying the ball outside the boundrylines. The two meter space now manditory for opposing players to respect make this foul throw less contencious than in the past when they stood eyeball to eye ball at times. A foul throw is an east restart method so players who mess it up really have no excuse! Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 12508

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