Question Number: 16711

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/15/2007

RE: Travel Under 17

Willie of Redding, CA USA asks...

I was the AR for a game. In the game, a white player tripped a blue player just outside the 18. The Ref called the signaled the foul with only his whistle, set the ball and put his arm in the air as if it was an indirect kick. It should have been a direct kick. The blue player kicked the ball straight to the goal and the GK did not go for the ball because the ref had his arm in the air. She was fairly athletic and there was a greater than 50/50 chance she would have stopped it. The ref signalled the goal with his arm stil raised; something that the GK pointed out. "It was an indirect kick, your arm is still up!"
I put my flag up but didn't move up the line to signal a goal until I could talk to him. I explained that what I saw was what the GK saw, but I was at a loss for what to do. I told him that it should have been a direct kick, and he said white should have known that it was really a direct kick like the blue player did, so he awarded the goal.
I am still unsure what should have been done to fix the mess. What do you think.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I think that this referee should learn the first rule of holes: When in one, stop digging.

USSF Advice to Referees, section 13.9, tells us that because of the referee's incorrect signal the free kick should be retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The term "shot himself in the foot" comes to mind. The referee incorrectly signalled that a free kick was indirect. The goalkeeper saw this and allowed an indirect free kick to cross the goal line untouched. The correct restart, in accordance with Law 16, is goal kick.

That's where things started to come unglued. The referee gives a goal. The goalkeeper dissents, it was dissent after all, rightfully so, I might add. You did what you needed to do, you got his attention and discussed it with him. He refused to take your advice. Done deal, his match, his decision and his reputation. BUT your reputation suffered too! Granted you are there to assist, not insist -- however this is one of the times you should insist AND you have a stick in your hand, he only has a whistle. You may figuratively hit him with the stick! Loudly, so the players can hear say YOU SIGNALED INDIRECT, that was an error. YOU MUST RETAKE the kick. There you have done all you can, the players know you tried. If he is not willing to change the decision then EVERYONE that counts [the players] know you tried.

Regards,

crap -- go ahead and hit him with your stick....

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

See Question: 16766