Question Number: 24092

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/5/2010

RE: rec Under 18

larry phelps of Newburgh, new york usa asks...

Team A commits a careless foul 20 yds out, almost directly in front of their goal. I whistle the foul and point direction while moving to the left of play (my quadrant), toward the touch line. Team A is starting to line up for a wall, but an astute Team B forward takes a quick DFK, curving the ball into the goal.

I signal a goal and that was the winning goal for the game (Team B). At the end of the game, Team A's coach claimed that I should have allowed them to set the wall and disallowed the goal. I responded that Team B had the advantage and did not ask for a ceremonial restart so the goal was legit.

Did I do anything wrong? Aside from a cardable offence in the same area, is there a time when the Ref must rule for a ceremonial restart even if none is requested?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Nope, you did nothing wrong. Coach is mad because his players got caught with their shorts around their ankles - and that is as much his fault as theirs. I suspect at the recreational level, the coach may not be very well versed in the Laws of the Game, and he has assumed from what he thinks he has seen on TV that the defenders have a right to set the wall. Unfortunately for him, he is incorrect.

Unless the opponents have encroached enough to warrant the referee having to step in (and we know USSF frowns on that, if the kicking team has given no sign they want help - see this year's 'Managing Free Kicks' DVD), or unless as you noted, there is a misconduct to be addressed before a restart is allowed, in such a situation, the referee should allow the kicking team as much leeway as possible in taking the kick.

Defenders have no right to set a wall, and no right to delay the taking of the kick. They do have the right not to be deceived by the referee or interfered with by the referee, but that's it.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The defense has no right to a wall. The coach is wrong. The attacking team generally is entitled to a quick free kick.

There are two times when a Referee must convert a kick to ceremonial. First, if a player is cautioned or sent off, play must restart with a whistle. Second, if the attacking team asks the referee to enforce the distance at a free kick, they must wait for a whistle.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Larry
Nothing wrong whatsoever in this situation and a legitimate gola was scored.
What does happen though is that many referees do not want the subsequent hassle to arise and every free kick involving a defensive wall becomes a ceremonial free kick. That eliminates irate players and coaches shouting at the referee but does nothing for the team that has been disadvantaged by the foul.
The only time a whistle is involved is where a player has been issued a card, the attacking team has asked for ten yards.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Next time a coach says this to you ask him, 'Coach, since it was your team that committed the foul which disadvantaged the other team, what makes you think your team has any rights?' The team taking the kick has a right to take it quickly and you should do nothing to prevent this. The team committing the foul is REQUIRED to immediately withdraw the required 10 yards without being told, not interfere with the taking of the kick, and be quiet.