Question Number: 23979

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/20/2010

RE: Competitive Other

Russ Robitaille of Manchester, CT USA asks...

When an indirect kick is made within 10 yards of the goal, are players allowed to line up on the goal line? If so, would the referee have to move them so that they were 10 yards from the ball, or essentially off the field. And a follow up question: if they stood behind the goal line to prevent the ball from crossing the line, would they technically be illegally off the field?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Law 13 requires defenders to be at least ten yards 'unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts.'

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Russ, I am sure you have looked at Law 13 and read over and over the part where it says players can stand on their own goal between the posts. I mean you are a referee, aren't you?
Your second question is a bit more tricky. First of all it is a bit confusing. It would be foolhardy if not almost impossible to stand BEHIND the goal line and stop the ball from crossing the line. Why would I stand there and how would I actually stop the ball? If I did stop the ball, it would be by mere inches from a goal. There are many instances when players step off the field and it is quite acceptable. Examples are: running around an opponent in active play, taking a throw in or corner kick, your momentum carried you off the field and what have you. In this case, I would not call it 'leaving the field without permission' but consider it a tactical move.
Let's say there is crowd on the goal line and you want move to the other side of the goal. It is not a problem to go around these players by stepping off the field.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russ
The player must retreat 10 yards, However there is no requirement to go back further than the goal line even if it is lesser. If an IDFK is awarded on the 6 yard line the players only retreat 6 yards.
Also in normal play there is nothing wrong with temporarily moving off the field of play in order to play the ball.