Question Number: 12951

Law 1- The Field 6/4/2006

RE: Cup Under 15

Garry of Irwin, Pa USA asks...

What happens if a player is trying to take a corner kick, gets frustrated, and rips the flag out so there is more room? This happened during our last game and the sideline was going crazy but the ref didn't seem to care.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee should blow his/her whistle and calmly tell the player to not touch the corner flag and to move the ball wherever he needs to in order to take a kick. Personlly, I'd make the player put the flag back where it belongs. If the player continues and rips the flag out again, he earns himself a yellow card for unsporting behavior and a remender that if he does it again, he''l get another yellow and a subsequent red card and then the team can find someone else to take the kick.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Garry this one falls into my first time caution for unsporting behavior second time the problem goes away niche. This gent needs to calm down and enjoy the match or off he goes. I'll bet everything will be better off without him. The flag is not to be moved out of the way unless they are in other than a vertical position by a ton. They are required to be in place in each corner according to Law 1. When the player violates Law 1 he cheats. Cheaters get cautioned and upon repetition are sent-off.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Gary,
frustration is something that while understandable can lead us down a dangerous path. A player allowing himself to be so upset needs to refocus and collect himself. To recieve a caution for such a foolish act is a yellow card that could haunt him later if his first and immediately if his second. The referee must intervene and correct this as a matter of neccessity. Whether I would caution or warn and ensure the flag was repositioned I need to see the incident and feel the need to do one or the other. It is a good idea for a referee to be aware when players are on the verge of losing it and we can on occassion talk them back into the match . If the flag was at a crap angle it does not hurt to explore the possibility of fixing it before it creates such an incident. Cheers

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

See Question: 12982