Question Number: 23511

Law 13 - Free Kicks 6/20/2010

RE: Comp Under 19

Jim Menter of Haverhill, MA USA asks...

1. Direct kick awarded and taken quickly without player asking for 10 yds. It hits an opposing player who is located inside 10 yds who was never asked to move. What is the call? Referee called obstruction and gave him a retake of the kick. I disagree. He decided to take the kick and the ball is live at the point. It is not the players fault that he was there. He did jump up in the air when he realized that the kick was going to be taken and he did not have time to move even if he was asked.
2. Keeper makes very heavy contact with offensive player (later diagnosed with bruised ribs) in the penalty area to get the ball. Nothing called. Are those balls 50/50 or is keeper allowed to make that type of contact to get the ball? Keeper did it twice this game. I know we are to protect the keepers but I feel that he was the agressor here.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Menter
1. Always a difficult decision for the referee. The Laws says if a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who is less than 10 yds from the ball intercepts it, the referee must allow play to continue. It also says that if a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who is near the ball deliberately prevents him taking the kick, the referee must caution the player for delaying the restart of play. Clearly sometimes there is a fine line between intercepting and preventing and that is a judgement call by the referee.
2. The goalkeeper is treated like any other player on the field of play. As you know it is an offence to charge, jump at, strike an opponent etc in a careless, reckless or excessive force manner. The referee is the sole judge of that and in 50/50 situations players do come together heavily when challenging for the ball. Many times that is fair and legal. In those situations both players know the risk in making contact with each other. The referee has to judge whether the contact is fair and that will depend on the manner and type of the challenge.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1. The opponent less than 10 yards away doesn't have to be on a quick kick. That said, his jumping up to play the ball could be seen as similar to charging at the ball in which case there'd be a re-kick and a caution

2. The keeper is also not allowed to commit any of the other 9 direct free kick fouls. He has no more right to the ball than anyone else

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

1. The issue here is whether or not the defender ran to the ball or if the ball was just kicked right at him. If the quick kick was taken and accidently kicked at the defender, play on. If the defender ran at the kicker and stopped the ball, then it is a rekick and most likely a caution.
2. The keeper is like any other player. Some referees naturally protect the keeper a bit more than others. To me...the keeper is entitled to play like a regular player accept he/she can use his hands in the penalty area.