Question Number: 1904

RE: Semi Pro Adult

Cameron Marshall of , Australia asks...

An interesting situation arose in a game I was officiated in recently. Early in the match, I cautioned a Team A player for not retiring the 10 yards at the taking of a FK - he turned to face the Team B player taking the FK and extended his leg up to stop the ball's path...Ten minutes later in the same game the situation reversed. At the taking of a Team A FK, the Team A player (who was not happy with the original decision to caution his teammate) saw the opportunity to kick the ball into an opponent (Team B) who was walking away from the incident minding his own business ie. facing away from the player taking the FK and making no attempt to impede the progress of the ball. I did not caution the Team B player and allowed play to continue, much to the disgust of the Team A bench, who saw it as a "perfect example of refereeing inconsistency"...However, I saw the two incidents very differently...What is your opinion?

Answer provided by Referee Starr

Your scenario is a little unclear so I will make some assumptions. I assume that the team'A' player delayed the re-start of the game by not retreating (10) yards and that is what you cautioned him for. I am not privy to your Federation's interpretation of this situation and can only make statements as I would have adjudicated the situation here in the USA. The team "B" player has the right to take the kick as soon as he wants to. If his opponent is less than 10 yards from the ball, as soon as the team 'B' player kicks the ball he relinquishes his rights to the 10 yard rule and accepts the player invironment as it stands. No infringement, no penalty, "play on"..As to the second situation, you state (in as many words) that the team 'A player kicked the ball at the opposing player who had his back to him. I interpret this to be deliberate per your description of the incident and would either caution or, but probably, send off the kicker depending upon the severity of the contact with the ball and current control status of the game. No action on the retreating player as he had no intention of infringing the laws of the game and restart with the original free kick for team 'A'. I hope that this gives you something to think about.