Question Number: 24863

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/29/2011

RE: High School Varsity High School

Brad Harman of Columbia, South Carolina USA asks...

During a recent High School Boys Varsity match we had this happen. A foul was called against Team A 10 yards inside of Teams B's half of the field. B1 steps up to take the kick. He strikes the ball and it goes over the keepers head and into the goal. While the kick is being taken A1 and B2 are just outside the 18 yard line in A's Defensive half. They are doing a little pushing to establish their position. B2 then kicks A1 in the lower leg. How would you handle this situation? How does when the kicking of A1 occur effect your decision?

Thanks again for your input about my soccer questions!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

'Pushing to establish position' - do you mean actual pushing, or just jostling and bumping? And when did it happen - before or after the free kick was taken?

If before the kick, the pushing is not a foul, because the ball is not in play. It could be misconduct, if the pushing was bad enough. But most likely it can be handled by shouting at them to knock it off.

Similarly for kicking the opponent - if it happened before the free kick, it is not a foul. But I'd have a hard time seeing this as anything other than misconduct: unsporting behavior (yellow) or violent conduct (red).

If either the pushing or the kicking happened after the free kick was taken and the ball was in play, then we have a foul.

On the pushing, you have to decide who pushed first; that determines the restart. Again, only if it is a real push, not just a couple of bumps. You can also decide to play advantage if A1 initiated the push.

If B2 kicked A1 after the free kick was taken but before the goal was scored, you call the foul and restart with a direct free kick outbound.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brad
Jostling for position happens all the time and many referees view it as trifling. When it gets to a push that is a foul when the ball is in play. If it happens before the ball is kicked the referee has to decide whether to intervene or not. If he intervenes the original restart does not change.
Now under no circumstances should a player be allowed to kick an opponent and if it happens off the ball it is violent conduct and a dismissal. If the ball is in play the restart is a direct free kick from that location. If the ball is not in play, it is misconduct, the player is dismissed and the restart does not change.
As described I would disallow the goal, send off B2 for violent conduct and restart with a direct free kick from where the offence took place.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

When did B2 kick A1?

If it happened before B1 took the free kick, the goal is disallowed and after B2 is disqualified (NFHS) and shown the red card, the free kick will be retaken.

If it happened after the goal was scored (all of the ball had crossed all of the line), B2 is still sent off, but the goal should be allowed. (Not a likely scenario.)

If it happens while the ball is in the air, B2 is still sent off. The goal is not allowed. The referee must decide who committed the first foul: (a) If A1 committed the first foul, the restart will be a DFK for B at the spot of the foul (This doesn't sound likely, though players usually don't kick each other for no reason.) or (b) if B2 committed the first foul, the restart will be a DFK for A at the spot of the foul.

Referees should be near and watch the landing zone on free kicks. If there is 'jostling,' the better practice is to hold up the free kick and deal with it before it escalates.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I'm assuming the pushing you describe s fair and you do not believe should be punished, yes? If so, what you have to decide is exactly when B2 kicked A1. If before the kick was taken, B2 is disqualified per NFHS rules, a red card shown and the kick retaken. If B2 kicked A1 after the kick was taken but before the goal was scored, the goal is disallowed, B2 is disqualified and shown the red card and the restart would be a direct free kick from where B2 kicked A1. If B2 kicked A1 after the goal had been scored, the goal is allowed, the restart is a kick-off for team A. B2 is still disqualified and shown the red card.