Question Number: 25185

Law 5 - The Referee 7/8/2011

RE: Competitive Adult

Grant of Ontario, Canada asks...

Lady and gentlemen, a question in two parts. After awarding a controversial IDFK for handling what I believed a deliberate pass to the keeper, the attackers unsuccessfully attempted a quick restart. This while I held the whistle at eye level and was moving the defenders back to the goal line. I whistled the play dead as I intended a ceremonial restart... cue the fanfare from defenders and spectators. There was loud insistence that the attackers had given up their right to a whistled restart, and it didn't help that they scored on the whistle. Did I act correctly in denying the quick start?

At halftime, the keeper approached me and berated me for my decisions. I agreed to speak with him, hoping to defuse the situation. I find sometimes that it's helpful to let a player air a grievance, but sometimes it backfires and I get an earful for my efforts. As there was no profanity, I didn't feel it fair to caution for dissent, given that I had allowed the conversation. Right or wrong? Should I have simply shown yellow when he approached?

Thanks for your advice.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The question for you to answer is why was the kick ceremonial? If you were not giving a caution, your cue as to whether or not to make it ceremonial comes from the kicking team. If they are setting up and look like they want to go ahead and go, by all means get your arm in the air, get out of the way and let it go.

By holding up the kick, you helped the defense get set up - that it didn't help them ultimately, but when the referee interferes with a restart without an indication from the kicking team that this help is desired, management issues ensue. The defenders have no rights at a free kick except not to be confused by the referee.

The retake may have been the best thing here, as it more or less re-established equilibrium.

As for dealing with the keeper - dissent is dissent. The fact that he followed you to berate you shows everyone watching that he's a candidate for a yellow. Whether you give it or not is up to you, ultimately. My colleagues have good advice on asking what he wants and limiting the scope of the conversation.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Grant
Once you intervened to start moving the defenders back in this free kick restart that made it a ceremonial free kick which means that it is on the whistle. This of course works both ways and in the event that a goal was scored from the original kick then it would have to be retaken. It can help if it is clearly spoken that it is on the whistle and ensure though your positioning etc that it is not taken. Also if a player ignores your instruction to wait for the whistle then a caution may be appropriate. It also shows the players that it was clearly a whistled restart with a censure when it was ignored.
As regards your second point I would only speak to a player to clarify a point in Law and not allow him to question decisions or comment on performance. So if a player approaches to berate me he is not entertained and told to go away. If he persist then that is dissent and a caution would be appropriate even if profanities were not used. If on the other hand a player asks why I made a decision I will explain in law why it was made. That is the only exception and it must be done in a respectful manner.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Why did you decide to make it a ceremonial kick? That's what you did by moving back the defenders and indicating that it would be on the whistle. Inside the penalty area it's often to the referee's benefit to have ceremonial kicks, but was it of benefit to the kicking team? Would they have preferred a quick start? Looks like maybe, since they tried it despite your actions. But only you can answer if there was a need for a ceremonial kick. Just because the defenders are questioning your decision, that doesn't mean you have to take away the free kick. If the attackers can quickly place the ball and kick it, they may be taking advantage of the defenders' preoccupation with the call.

However, once you have decided that the kick will be ceremonial, that's how it has to be. If they take it without waiting for the whistle, it must be retaken. A caution can also be considered for unsporting behavior for disregarding your instructions - provided of course that you have made those instructions clear!

As for the goalkeeper conversation at halftime, you are correct that by allowing him to talk you should give him more leeway regarding dissent than you normally would. I have once or twice been approached by a youth team coach, and told him that I would explain my call, but we weren't going to have an argument about it; if that was not satisfactory then we wouldn't be having any discussion. 'Can we talk about it calmly? OK, what's your question?' I will respect the players and coaches as long as they respect me.