Question Number: 22682

Law 13 - Free Kicks 12/30/2009

RE: Adult

Steve of Toowoomba, Qld Australia asks...

This question is about a free kick awarded near the oppositions PA, which is taken quickly " before defence were set, and upset.

In a mid-level mens game, the left winger was about 10m from his sideline and sprinting with the ball from halfway to about 18m from goal line. He then turned inward, propped, as the sole defender came to tackle. The winger turned and kicked ahead; the defender was clearly beat and tackled late bringing the winger down. I was running up after them, blew whistle for the foul and award the free kick. I was thinking it was a deliberate professional foul, as there were two other forwards unmarked further inside the field in front of the goal waiting for the ball to be crossed to them. I assessed the ball had only been kicked a short distance ahead, so the left winger, if not for the foul, would have had the opportunity to kick the ball across to them. If he had done so they would still have been unmarked as there was no other defender within 20m of them (other than the GK in his PA).

Before I was close enough to the defender to issue a yellow card, the left winger got up off the ground holding the ball, stepped back a couple of paces to where the foul had occurred, placed the ball on the ground with his hand on top of the ball (so it was stationary), and kicked the ball across to those forwards. One got the ball, took a couple of steps and then kicked past the keeper. I awarded the goal. The defender, who had fouled the winger, was slowly making his way towards the PA and still inside 9.15m from the ball, when it was placed and kicked past him to those opposition forwards.

My usual response would have been to issue the yellow, and recommence play with the ceremonial free kick. However on this occasion, I was in position to see the next phase of play. I had seen the overwhelming advantage the attacking team had prior to the foul, and could see they still had a significant advantage which was why they took the quick free kick. I let play resume quickly. The defence complained the ball was still moving when kicked - it wasnt. Their next complaint was they werent ready for the kick " meaning after hearing the whistle they expected they had time to get into position and mark those forwards, before the kick was taken. My question is since it occurred so close to the opposition PA and likely result in a goal scoring opportunity, was it too unfair to the defence that I should have insisted on delaying the restart.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Teams are entitled to a quick restart, unless for issues of game control the *referee* must hold up the start. The defenders are not entitled to set up their wall or cause any other delays. Teams scored upon will always have something to complain about, so don't worry. Normally the whistle for a foul is also the signal that play may be restarted. The defense should know that and should prepare themselves to play.

If you were thinking of a caution and decided that the caution *must* be administered, then you would have to hold up the restart. You have the option of allowing them to take a quick restart, but if you do so you lose the opportunity to caution.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Steve
Great decision and well done. The reason for the free kick is to give an advantage to the team that has been fouled. That's why it is called 'free' and it worked perfectly here. Nothing remotely unfair about it. What was unfair was the foul and the unsporting manner of it.
As regards any gripe by the defence I would dismiss them totally. You clearly saw the ball was not moving and there is nothing in the laws about waiting for the defence to get organised. In fact I would tell the defender he was lucky that play had restarted as if it hadn't he would have been cautioned. I saw an incident in a Dutch league game recently where the defender in a similar situation actually prevented the free kick from being taken and he was dismissed for two cautions, one for the original foul and the second for preventing the restart
The only time the defence can get organised is where the referee has decided on a 'ceremonial' restart and that usually happens in front of goal where the defenders crowd the ball preventing a shot. Once the referee begins to organise defenders in those cases play is restarted on the whistle when the wall has been moved back the required 10 yards.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Unfair to the defense not to let them gain the benefit of the tactical foul?
Hardly. Excellent awareness and judgment!

The only right the defense has on a free kick is the right not to be misled by something the referee says or does.

Your experience shows why referees ought not always be too quick to pull the yellow card out of their pocket. Leave the quick yellow card to the situations when it is necessary to immediately show everyone that a card is coming and the misconduct will be dealt with before play will restart.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Defenders would love it if a referee bought their story about having a right to set a wall! Good job in handing them a 'no sale' sign.

The defender's actions were a tactical foul, and his team suffered the consequence they least wanted - a goal against them. Justice was served, thanks to your clear thinking. While the defender deserved a caution in your opinion, if the attacking team were to choose between the discipline to the defender or the goal, that is a no brainer.

I'll wager the defender will be more careful next time, since he now knows his team may not have an opportunity to set up and defend if the other team and the referee are alert.

As my colleagues have noted, 'free' kick means free from the interference of the opposition. Allowing the defense to delay the kick so they can get organized makes it not free at all. The ceremonial kick is there for the kicking team if they want it to be ceremonial, perhaps because they have set plays they want to run or some such. The ceremonial restart is also used because whatever caused the foul to happen has to have discipline administered or the game will suffer, or perhaps an injury has occurred which requires the game to stay stopped.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Sounds like a good decision to me! The defenders have only one obligation to withdraw the minimum distance . They have no rights at all except not to be unduly interfered with by the officials. From the description of the events you did not . Good goal as long as you the referee were satisfied the ball was spotted at the correct location, kicked into play from a stationary position no one receiving the ball was offside! If you had drawn the card and were in pursuit or in the stages of telling the defender to pay attention to you then you are likely committed to ceremonial restart and showing the card. Much better decision here to award the goal and perhaps remind the defenders of their obligations and the attackers' right to have a free kick!
Cheers

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

See Question: 23817