Question Number: 16504

Mechanics 8/31/2007

RE: Competitive Adult

Al of Sarnia, ON CANADA asks...

Minutes remaining in a 2-1 match. Losing team attacker on a quick break against low numbers is recklessly pushed off ball about 20 yards from goal by a defender (extremly close to DOGSO, but a 2nd defender was near enough to have intervened had foul not occurred). Keeper, possibly in hopes to waste time, comes to top of PA to "protest" whistle.

I am just about to pull aside defender for a Caution and yellow card and tell keeper to mind his manners. However, before I can take any action, attacker with keeper out of position and only two defenders nearby asks for quick kick.

Under this circumstance, in what has been an excellent match, can I simply use common sense, "forget" Caution, and let attacker go for the now empty goal?

He ended up wasting the opportunity, but relished the chance to tie the game.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Al, if you have made any indication that the kick will be ceremonial, you must go with that. For instance, if you've got the yellow card in your hand preparing for the caution, I'd say you better follow up with it. If all you've done is blow the whistle and signal the direction, the attackers may take their quick free kick unless you really, really need to give that caution. Be prepared for howls of protest when the ball goes in the net - remember that game in England last season?

I recall a US WNT game a few years back when the opposing goalkeeper was called for something resulting in an IFK. The keeper picks up the ball and starts arguing with the ref. One of our intreped ladies grabbed the ball out of the keeper's hand, placed it on the ground in approximately the correct location, passed it to a teammate slightly behind her (thus no offside), who shot it in the net for a goal. Keepers need to mind their own business, not the ref's.

Note: After reading my colleagues' answers, I need to clarify my answer. I used the ref having the card in hand ready to use as an example of how the ref might have communicated to the defense that, "I'll be talking to you, we're not restarting now." Certainly a ref can change his mind on whether a caution is needed or not, before the restart of play. What he can't change is the fact that by word or action he may have indicated to the fouling team that the restart will be ceremonial.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

As Referee Voshol notes, the circumstances are everything in making a decision on whether or not a quick free kick could be taken. If you had stopped play, approached the defender with the card out, you cannot allow the quick kick to go forward, as that would not be fair play. If on the other hand, the thought of cautioning the defender is simply in your mind, but not in your actions, and the offense says we want a quick kick, by all means move out of their way! As I think you had figured out, if you've announced it will be a ceremonial free kick, then you can't allow the quick kick. This is where referee experience and the learned ability to predict what might occur will serve you in good stead, because you will anticipate the attack will want a quick kick, and barring the need to issue a send-off for something violent, you as the referee want to allow that to happen and can choose not to issue the caution. As for the howls of protest Ref Voshol notes will occur, it almost always works to point out to the defense that if they had been in the attackers' shoes, I would have done the same for them. They'll grumble but back off.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Al your mechanics appear correct to me, as a reader. Had I been a witness I hope I would have had the same opinion. My colleagues both mention having the card in your hand causing you to not have options other than the caution. I respect that point of view and I also offer the following thoughts.

The referee is permitted to change a decision taken unless he has allowed play to restart. Granted putting a card back in one's pocket is not always a good idea -- but... There was something once said about using the word never.

Those of us who have read what Law 12, quite exactly mind you, understand without doubt unless there is mayhem close at hand we usually "Caution and Show the Yellow Card", not the other way 'round. The reason for this order of things is exactly what happened to you! If the side bearing the brunt of the cautionable offence wants to get on with it, let them. UNLESS you have given any indication you intend to do something. UNLESS failing to discipline will be a match breaking thing, in your opinion based on experience that day! The referee must remember that the greatest punishment against a foul playing side is a goal lost very near the end of a match. I hope I would allow the chance of a goal and not be a party to "delaying the restart of play" -- as so many referees seem to be these days. I also hope that I would be far enough out of position during the remaining portion of the match that I would catch, yeah catch, THE defender the next time he did ANYTHING wrong and give him his persistence caution. That I can do!!!

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Each match is a series of decisions adapted specifically to the needs of the match for those players that day but we must understand the laws if we are to bend them! We must understand the consequences of when and why we are trained to do things in a certain manner.

Referees must accept that the duty to intervene is based on when they must and play must cease for them to complete the task. I can accept the logic of my esteemed colleague never say never but I also accept when I have interned that intervention has consequences.

Believe it or not certain coaches and players do understand the laws although some will pretend not too when it is in their interest to do so! If we are to show a card we are recommended to go with the ceremonial restart as a way of being consistent as opposed solely to be fair! In reality fairness and the need to deal with situations to prevent further unfairness is paramount in dealing with each individual occurrence

To be sure as a coach I insist my defenders defend at ALL times especially when the ball is out of play because of the possibility of play resuming at ANY time! Tactically it is why defenders move slowly, throw a ball up in the air, appear bewildered and remain close by as if (Huh what?) Knowing EXACTLY what and why!

If referees were to not permit such tactics by enforcing the laws these tactics will alter to fit the program. Walking up to a player with the idea of cautioning is not the same as walking up with a card in hand as it sets a program in motion, to deviate is risky! We can debate whether we should or should not as a leaning to the aggrieved team being unfairly fouled originally! To examine if we COULD deviate from expectations is fun in the WHAT IF? category.

WE recommend in the mechanics of showing a card ONLY in the direst of extreme circumstances is there a need to rush in with a card already in site in the palm of your hand to head off a possibly dangerous confrontation. You indicate you wanted too but at this point no card was yet in your hand? Had you indicated come here or otherwise pulled the opponent away to isolate?

When players witness to the event , they take the cue that the play will not continue until at least the culprit is identified and shown the card if the refere displays that posture. Tradition plays a part in why players react or not react to certain aspects of how a referee performs his or her duties. Whether a whistle is required is another kettle of fish. As a Coach I reiterate to my teams constantly when defending unless the referee has SPECIFICALLY told you and indicated a whistle will restart expect a restart!

Make no mistake a team that has fouled the other has ABSOLUTELY NO rights, only an obligation to withdraw a *Minimum* ten yards from the spot of the free kick. Given that the foul was reckless in nature warranting the referee to go for the yellow plastic is further obligation to the player who did the dastardly deed!. It is a player's obligation to not retreat from a referee wishing to caution and show a card but to take it as the law intended by following the tradition where a referee must have a chat write a bit display a caution and restart accordingly. The keeper hasno consideration in this matter other than possibly considering dissent as another cautionable option

Failure to not at least finish off the cardable business before restarting sets a dangerous chain of events in motion where tactically players will then feel it is a right to pressure a referee in similar circumstances where he will not want to restart.
Players who might be expecting a card will want to retreat away and defend because now there is no basis of tradition to honor it!
Your actions as referee sets a certain way of thinking in motion and how ever bad you might feel the offended team loses the quick restart opportunity best reexamine why the card was considered at all?

The inference is look to the opportunity that could exist before you limit the options of what can be done by acting in a way that implies something other than what actually takes place! If you feel you did nothing to project yourself as making a decision then allow opportunity to unfold as you see fit and remember your match, your decision, your reputation but their game!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

Good avice given above and I concur with the statements that if you have taken any action at all to indicate that the restart will be ceremonial or have taken action to caution the player then you should not allow the quick kick. Said another way, if you have deliberately taken actions toward the defense that draws their attention towards you and not the restart of play (other than your typical reffing duties of making the call and their desire to "discuss" the call) such that they think you are cautioning, etc., then to allow the quick kick at that point you will have unfortunately and adversely potentially impacted the outcome of the match. I am reminded of a saying I heard years ago that was originally applied to advantage: Don't just do something, stand there. The meaning here is to delay intervention for just a second or two to see what is developing and to, hopefully, make a more quality decision for the good of the game. All the best,