Question Number: 24846

Law 13 - Free Kicks 4/22/2011

RE: Competitive Under 17

Doug of Houston, TX US asks...

At the taking of a direct free kick in a recent match, a defender, inside 10 yds from the ball and the taker not asking for 10, jumped as the ball was kicked. The ball did not touch the defender. The attacking team's coach wanted me to caution the defender for not honoring the required distance.

I told him at half, when he came to ask about this situation, that I would caution the defender if ball, when kicked, touches the defender when they move (jump, stick out a leg) inside 10 yds. He seemed OK with that.

One of my AR's was not and said I should caution for not honoring the required distance regardless. Again, the attacking team did not request 10 yds.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Your actions were consistent with part of the USSF's (and FIFA's) teaching on dealing with free kicks.

The attacking team has the right to take a quick free kick even if the defenders are not ten yards away. If the defender does nothing else, play continues even if the ball touches the defender.

The AR was wrong if suggesting that a caution must always be given when the defender's are less than 10 yards on a free kick. (I suspect the AR was repeating the carnard 'I always get 10 or they get a card.' Few walk that talk.) Indeed, we all know that the attacking coach would have something different to say if immediately after the whistle blew, the ball sailed into the goal (for no goal can be allowed).

If the defender does something (sticks out leg, rushes the ball, etc), the referee may stop play, punish the defender, and retake the kick. In your situation, the defender did something -- he jumped! As referee, you had the power to stop play, caution the player, and retake the kick. If, as you note, the ball touched the defender, you must do so. But, touching the ball is not a required element. It is whether, in the referee's opinion, the actions of the defender affected the kick. Note, this often happens when the defender(s) rush the kicker even if they make no contact with the ball.

If the referee decides the action had no effect, a private warning to the defender may suffice. In some matches, however, the game will require stopping play and dealing with the defender's misconduct. The temper of the match, past actions on free kicks, and the location of the restart can inform when it is time to interfere with the right to a quick kick for the good of the game.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Doug
What has the attacking team been denied here? The free kick has been taken and the flight of the ball was well determined before it got near the 'jumping' defender. Play simply continues.
Now had the defender been successful making contact with the ball or the jump made a difference in the play then the referee would stop play if there is no immediate advantage, caution the defender and restart with a retake of the kick.
You should also inform the AR that if a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who is less than 10 yds from the ball intercepts it, the referee must allow play to continue.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

When or if your AR handles a center with that attitude of giving a card to every defender who doesn't immediately give the 10 yards, s/he is going to have a game that seems very, very long, even when it ends early because one team went under the required 7 players to continue.

There are very few instances in which the referee MUST give a caution every time the Law says we can give one. If we did that, it would take all the joy out of the game. Ugh.

Having said that, it does help to jump on these situations early in the game and make it known you expect 10 yards and will do what is necessary if forced to do so (that way it is their fault for ignoring a warning). Of course, it also helps to know exactly where 10 yards will be each and every time so as to earn respect from the players. But you clearly know this.

As for when the card really must come out, it will be when the defender interferes with the kick from within the 10 yards. The referee is the judge, based on the criteria set out by FIFA and our national association, as to when that interference has occurred. As you noted, the extension of the foot or leg, moving into the kick or jumping at the ball are easy to judge as interference. Touching the ball is not required, because their interference may cause the attacker to hurry the shot or miskick it, which is enough.

Remember also that the kicker does NOT have to ask for 10 - they are entitled to 10. Just because they don't directly ask doesn't mean they intend to take a quick free kick and are willing to live with the results if a defender legally intercepts it.

The video put out by USSF this year on Managing Free Kicks encourages referees not to step in to make a kick ceremonial until it is clear the offense wishes that to happen OR that the defense has made that simply impossible (or even improbable). We don't want to take away any opportunity to take a quick free kick, nor do we wish to force a team to take a ceremonial kick. It's a fine balance, and I'd say you are definitely on the right track. Paying attention to the teams, how they play, how they communicate with teammates and the referee will make these decisions easier and more appropriate with every practice. Good luck!