Question Number: 24696

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/16/2011

RE: red College

Mike of Dublin, Dublin Ireland asks...

A free kick is awarded on / close to the 18-yard line. It is lined up and the wall retreats 10 yards. Can the free-kick taker move the ball back (to get a better 'up and down')? If so, does the wall have to remain 10 yards from where the offence was committed or can they move up to within 10 yards of the new position?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
No, the player cannot move the ball after it is placed. He could 'fettle' the ball's position on the spot but certainly not move it back a yard from where the offence took place.
I once saw Ronaldinho do this in a game, where the referee went to pace off the 10 yards, R moved it back a pace for the reason you mention which gave him 11 yards to the closest defender. The referee did not notice that and it happened away from the AR who was on the other side of the penalty area.
Many teams will pick up on this and complain to the referee about the ball being moved.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

On a free kick, defenders are required to be at least 10 yards from the ball. The ball, however, is required to be located at the spot of the infraction. The kicker does not have the option to move the ball to a different spot.

While the referee usually will be lax about the exact location of the free kick when it takes place in the defending third - far from the opponent's goal - - because the infringement in placement has no impact on the opponent, referees will be strict about the placement of the ball when the free kick is in the 'danger zone' near an opponent's goal.

When the referee is enforcing the distance, the referee should also keep an eye on the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The ball is spotted at the site of the infraction. Once there, the player is not to move it.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 24705