Question Number: 23221

Law 15 - Throw In 4/30/2010

Sam Smith of Ocaneside, Ca usa asks...

During BU19 Game early in the 2nd half there was TI for one team on the own touch line cross the field from one AR, the AR thought was FK as soon the play in play went to team mate the AR flag the player for offside the referee blow the whistle and a give the opposing team IFK all the player screaming to the referee no offside on TI the other team took quick restart the ball kick 2 times and moved about 50 yard before the referee blow the whistle to remove the coach because the coach protest the call so he remove the coach from the field , the referee went and have talk with the AR who made the call after he knew was the wrong call the referee did bring the ball back to the where the offside call made and did dropped ball was this the right call by the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Sam:

The AR's flag for offside was in error if the attacker received the ball directly from a throw in. While the AR may not have been sure if the ball was touched by a member of the attacking team between throw and play, the referee should know. When the referee is 100 percent certain the flag is wrong, the referee should waive it down and allow play to continue.

Even though the referee stopped play, the referee could correct the mistaken offside call so long as play was not allowed to restart. The referee cannot change a decision, however, after allowing play to restart. So, when the referee stopped play to deal with the coach, he no longer could correct the original offside call. The correct restart, however, for stopping play to dismiss a coach, is also a dropped ball - - but the location should have been where the ball was located when the referee stopped play to deal with the coach.

A mistake by the assistant referee in flagging for offside. A mistake by the referee in not overruling the flag or recognizing the mistake before letting play restart. A mistake by the coach for behaving irresponsibly. Followed by a mistake in the location of the restart. I hope, at least, the match was enjoyable.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Oh, goodness! Big mistake for the AR - who clearly wasn't watching what was transpiring. Big mistake for the referee to ignore the pleas of the players regarding TIs and no offside offenses. The very least that should have been done was to delay a restart for just a second or two and think about what happened. The referee should be aware of anyone in an offside position at a TI, and he is the check on an AR who may throw up a flag in error (the AR isn't always at fault, truthfully).

A dropped ball was the correct restart here, but the location was wrong. Play had restarted after the flag, so it is too late to fix that. Play stopped next for the coach's misbehavior, so all that can be done is to stop play and send off the coach, restarting with a dropped ball wherever the ball was when the referee stopped play. Two oopsies by the referee - hope he learned something!