Question Number: 24756

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/2/2011

RE: Rec Under 14

Fred of Franklinton, NC US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24177

During a free kick, the player runs up to the ball and intentionally misses the ball to get the players to leave their feet, then he/she plays the ball. I know the law leaves a bit of an opening that allows an in-direct kick if the referee finds it unsportsman like. If this is not a case of being unsportsman, then what would be an example where a referee would call unsportsman like behavior for trickery during a kick?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Fred
Feinting to confuse opponents is allowed at a free kick so there is nothing wrong here.
An example of illegal feinting would be a player running over the ball, running up to the defensive wall and distracting the opponents by say waving his arms while the free kick is taken behind him.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If your example was a penalty kick instead of a free kick, then it would indeed be unsporting behavior.

At a free kick, your example is acceptable deception under the Laws of the Game. If the kicking team takes much too long with their running about, there could be a caution for delaying the restart of play, but that is pretty unusual. The referee should be proactive in those situations and tell the kicking team to get on with it already. The restart is still the free kick for the same team after the caution is issued.

If the kicking team runs up to the ball, and then gets down on their hands and knees and uses their head to try and put the ball into play, that would be unsporting behavior. The restart is still the free kick, as the ball was never put into play (it must be KICKED and moved to be in play), but only after the caution (and hopefully a severe arse chewing) is given.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

More than a bit, the laws allow great latitude to players on the attacking team on a free kick. The gap between guile and tricks (proper) and unsporting behavior (improper) is long. Innovation is encouraged. Sneakiness is par.

The line is crossed, IMO, when: (a) the attacking team taunts or treats the opponents disrespectfully; or (b) the attacking team's conduct is so offensive that it brings the Game into disrepute.