Question Number: 13093

Character, Attitude and Control 6/19/2006

RE: Select

Mark Lennon of Springfield, Virginia USA asks...

At a recent game as an AR, I observed a deliberate pass back to the keeper from a defender. The keeper picked up the ball and put it back into play. When I signalled the center to the IFK foul, he motioned to me to lower my flag. At the half, we discussed this and he thought I was calling for an offside. When I told him of the passback, he asked how the ball was passed back. It was from the lower leg (shin) immediatly above the foot. The center ref stated that the foul only applies when the pass comes from the foot so it was still a non-call. The FIFA rules state that the keeper may not touch the ball if it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate. In this respect, what defines a 'kick'? Since the pass came from well below the knee, I thought the foul was warrented. Please clarify this as I don't want to make the same mistake in the future. Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

In order to be kicked the foot must be used, anything but the foot requires more skill to do correctly so it is allowed. Good decision referee.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Mark,
the shin is not considered as a deliberate kick but rather the foot must be used. The area of the shin just above the foot could be viewed as a deliberate kick as coming off the top of the foot given the size of the ball and the likely hood of contact on both parts.

Still the mechanics, I question why the CR thought you signalled offside?
A raised still flag while facing the play indicates offside and a waved wiggling flag indicates a foul? Communication of a foul MUST be given and the CR should be able to differentiate from an offside or ball out and an actual foul or infringement during dynamic play! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Your center knows his stuff. Ball has to be deliberately kicked with the FOOT or it's not a foul. Incidently, your signal for a foul and for offside should be different. For offside you hold the flag still. For what you think is a foul, you wiggle it when the center looks at you.