Question Number: 15199

Mechanics 4/16/2007

RE: Competetive Under 18

Paola Morneau of Bloomingdale, NJ USA asks...

Team A is awarded a DFK about 25 yards out. Someone from Team A's bench tosses or kicks a second ball out onto the field.

The ref and both teams are watching the second ball while a player from Team B attempts to clear it from the field.

While they are doing this a player from Team A places the game ball at the site of the infraction and shoots past the distracted keeper and scores.

Ref signals goal. Should he have?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Absolutely not! He should have blown his whistle as soon as the second ball became an issue which was BEFORE the kick was taken.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The question shouldn't be if a goal is scored or not, which is no; but what did the referee do on this match to convince the someone on team "A's" bench that it was OK to throw a second ball on the field while on of their players was settling the ball for his free kick? Sounds like something contrived to take everyone's attention away from the free kick and offer the chance for the referee to make an error. Misconduct, I think so...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No. REFEREE needs to deal with the 2nd ball on field. The sub that threw ball on field should most likely be shown the yellow card for USB.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Law 2 is called "The Ball" not "The Balls". My guess is they probably named it that for a reason.

It's up to the referee to make sure the match is played fairly. That means - don't allow this play to start until the 2nd ball has been eliminated.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

This is now the referee's time. Any restart must happen only when the referee gives the signal to do so. The kicking team no longer has a "quick kick" opportunity. The referee should have proactively taken control of this restart. Unfortunately, they did not.