Question Number: 23673

Law 13 - Free Kicks 7/16/2010

RE: select Adult

carm soldato of chicago, ill us asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20892

I am on the team that was fouled (and our team is taking the free kick). If a member of my team places himself 10 yards from the free kick (where the wall may form), is it not true that it is now his 'space' and the defending team should not be allowed to move him or force him out?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Carm
What you describe is a situation where an opponent tries to disrupt the defensive wall at a free kick. If a defender stands directly behind the attacker there is nothing wrong with that either. What does happen though is that players in these situation cause difficulties through pushing and shoving in the setting up of the wall. If the situation is properly managed by the defence there is no advantage to this tactic yet it can cause disciplinary problems for the referee which he/she will try to avoid by managing it as best he can.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Players are entitled to any space that is available. The defense has no right to build a wall. It is not the attacking player's position that matters; it is the player's actions.

Whenever an attacking player joins the wall (or stands in front of it), however, the referee must be on high alert. There is a high likelihood that opponents will do something to each other to gain an unfair advantage. Referees should be proactive.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the wall was there first, the teammate of the kicker is not allowed to force his way in. If the teammate was there first, the wall is not allowed to force him out of the way. Space belongs to whoever was first occupying it.

I concur with my colleagues that the referee has to keep close watch on the interactions here.