Question Number: 13769

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/14/2006

RE: Rec Under 11

Bryan Klinck of Franklin, MA USA asks...

I am having a problem reconciling one of the answers in the Q&A 2006.

For Law 12, Question 11 (player throwing object at opposing player), the location where the offense was committed is where the thrown object contacted the opponent.

Question 13 (substitute throwing object at opposing player), again the location where the offence was committed is where the thrown object contacted the opponent.

However, in Question 12 (player throwing object at person seated in Technical Area), the location where the offense was committed is where the object was thrown from.

Am I missing some subtlety in the Laws here? Using the logic from Questions 11 and 13, I would have said that the location of the offense was where the opject struck the person, i.e. off field. Applying the logic from ATR 2006 Section 12.35 the restart would have been a dropped ball at the spot where the ball was when play was stopped.

Or am I just worrying too much? :-)

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The problem with this question goes back a number of years to when FIFA changed the location of the restart of a ball thrown by the keeper from his penalty area and it strikes an opponent outside the area. Used to be this was a penalty kick. No more, they changed it. Now we have a dilemma, how is play started when something is thrown at some one off the field by someone on the field. Law 12 Question 12 answers that. Simple.

Now when you use ATR to explain what FIFA policy is you have just used a document of lesser weight to explain one that takes precedence. This can not happen. ATR can explain what FIFA have said but not change what they say...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes, it was changed to the spot where the opponent was or would have been struck. As Mr. Fleischer states now the problem is what happens if opponent is standing off field.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

It is a tangled web we weave.
A player on or off the field is a player and any action he undertakes is as a player so a PLAYER who throws something be he on or off the field at an opposing player on the FOP will be a DFK restart.
In the case of a substitute any action he undertakes can only be INDFK as he is NOT a player.
When you apply law you look for the greatest good to come out of any situation
A DFK is a greater advantage and that applies when possible as NO free kick occurs off the field!
An INDFK for MISCONDUCT as you can caution or send off a player who does as you suggest (what the player tried to do whether successful or not).
An INDFK is better than a dropped ball.
Now if both are off the FOP then we have dropped ball UNLESS we stop play while the ball is in play to caution or send off we can sell an INDFK restart where the ball is because we stopped play solely to issue a card!
Cheers