Question Number: 23038

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/30/2010

RE: Competitive

Joe Iano of Seaettle, WA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23014

I don't condone the player's response, and his version of events leading up to the incident sounds one-sided.

But was it wise for the referee to tell the player to retrieve the ball? Does the referee even have the authority to tell a player to retrieve the ball? If kicking the ball away was time wasting or dissent, perhaps better just to show the yellow card.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Iano
I agree that it was not wise for the referee to ask the player to retrieve the ball. Indeed as you say the referee does not have the authority to do so. It is the opponents' free kick so they have to retrieve the ball and get on with it.
The best decision is to simply go with the yellow card for delaying the restart of play and add on additional time.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

No, it's not normal to tell a player to fetch a ball. But perhaps this player is one that the referee has been having problems with all game. Now he does one more thing, and the ref is fed up. 'OK, what'ja do THAT for? Go get the ball!'

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Usually the team that will be controlling the restart gets the ball. And no the referee doesn't have the authority to tell him to retrieve the ball. However the referee may have been giving this motormouth a chance to avoid a caution. Didn't work