Question Number: 24622

Law 15 - Throw In 2/27/2011

RE: comp. Under 19

al of chicago, il usa asks...

Throw in for team b by middle line of the field, the trower, trows the ball right into the back of the oponent (team a)the ball bounces back to him and he goes on playing the ball.
What would be the refere's decision? let's say that the trower deliberatly threw the ball, I presume that if it was not deliberate/intentional, then the play woulg go on.......since it was deliberate, would that be consider unsporting behaviour(guilty of trickery?), or violent conduct? and the restart....?
Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Al
The Laws of the game now allow for a player to throw the ball intentionally at an opponent in order to play the ball again but neither in a careless nor a reckless manner nor using excessive force, the referee must allow play to continue. So in this case play should be allowed to continue.
Older referees will remember when this was viewed as unsporting behaviour which was a caution and an indirect free kick. Not any longer although I suspect there may be a few who have not moved with the times.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The answer depends on the force with which the ball was thrown. If it was not recklessly thrown or violent or excessively hard the thrower can safely play the ball a second time because it has now touched another player (Law 15). There has been no offense and no need for a different restart.

The judgement of the force will be the referee's responsibility and should be based on the age and skill level of the teams involved.

If the referee judges the ball was either recklessly thrown (not using sufficient care for the safety of the opponent) or violently thrown the referee will stop play and award a DFK for striking at the spot where the ball hit the opponent and then issue the appropriate misconduct card - yellow or red.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Actually, if the ball was NOT thrown with excessive force or at least enough force to make the referee question the thrower's intent, this is perfectly legal and the referee should allow play to continue.