Question Number: 23736

Law 13 - Free Kicks 8/3/2010

RE: Rec and Competive Adult

Del DeSousa of Milford, Ct USA asks...

Recently at a game in Europe, there was a pass back to the keeper. The ref. whistled. The keeper handed the ball to the ref. The ref placed the ball in the ground, the attacker quickly passed it to a teammate and he scored.Question: Is it mandatory for the referee to indicate the indirect by lifting the arm strait up? in all cases and places on the field? Thanks.Del.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee DeSousa
The game you refer to was Arsenal v Porto in the Champion League where Referee Hansson awarded an IDFK against Arsenal for the goalkeeper touching the ball with his hands after it was deliberately kicked to him by a team mate. In the incident the keeper would not give the ball to the Porto player, the referee intervened, asked for the ball and handed it to the Porto player who promptly passed it to a team mate to score. Arsenal were very unhappy with the decision and cited a number of reason including whether it was a deliberate kick to the GK in the 1st place, no IDFK signal, the referee getting in the way of a defender, not taken from the correct place etc. When it was all examined the referee was technically correct although his mechanics left a lot to be desired. The real issue was the lack of preparedness by the Arsenal players for the quick free kick who were more interested in challenging the referee's decision than getting on with play.
In relation to your question the referee must raise his arm to signal an IDFK. It is however only an issue if it is not done when the ball enters the goal directly from an IDFK. In that case instead of a goal kick the free kick is taken again. In the Arsenal situation the arm was raised immediately the IDFK was awarded and then dropped to catch the ball from the GK. It was then raised again belately after the ball was kicked. In the circumstances it made no difference to the play.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

There was a similar incident a while back involving the US Women's team, playing against Brazil as I recall. The US player snatched the ball from the keeper's hands, put it on the ground and passed it back to a teammate who slotted it in for a goal, all while the goalkeeper was still arguing the call with the referee.

Regarding the indirect signal, if not showing the signal (or incorrectly showing a signal when the kick is direct) has misled the players, then the kick should be retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The defense has no rights on a free kick, except the right not to be misled by something the referee says or does. One issue in the Arsenal case was whether, by accepting the ball, the referee was indicating a ceremonial restart after a whistle. Nothing the referee did, however, appeared to give that indication.

When the free kick is an indirect free kick, the referee should give the signal (always, everywhere) which indicates to all that the ball must touch another player before a goal can be scored. It also helps the referee. If the referee only lowers the arm when the ball is touched by another player, the referee won't forget, in the moment of a fantastic shot, that an arm still in the air means no goal was scored.