Question Number: 25209

Law 5 - The Referee 7/13/2011

RE: Other

Titus van Wieren of Torri di Quartesolo, VI Italy asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25190

In response to your answers, I fully agree that potentially the Italians have it wrong but since the game was played in Italy and must be refereed as to FIGC rules, the goal was not a goal.

I have seen in the USA and Canada video clips (not to mention of others) of throw ins that are not done properly (so called throw in flips) which are contrary to the FIFA guidelines and I have not heard so much as a wimper of how it has been allowed or how stupid are those associations that do allow it.

I have seen and read the US High School Soccer rules that change so many of the rules that it seems totally crazy.

My point is that if you wish to damn others for small infringements then by all means but keep the tone down.

I can go on and on and my comments on Italy still stand. I am not Italian but a Dutch / Canadian citizen. I don't cheer for Italy when it comes to the world cup and I did not celebrate when they won the World Cup against the French (and that was hard since I was living in Italy at the time).

In closing to end this madding debate, GOAL WAS NOT A GOAL ACCORDING TO FIGC RULES AND GUIDELINES!

Is the FIGC change their rules for the upcoming season? That is another question and I will allow that to be decided by the IFAB, FIFA, the FIGC and all the others that have more say then I.

I will referee by the rules (LAWS) and the guidelines given to my by those who organise the games / league.

I by the way referee for the US military (where I would use the US guidelines) as well as in Italy itself whereby I use the FIGE guidelines.

Yours in soccer,

Titus D. van Wieren

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Titus
The fact is that the Italian referee decided that the goal was correct and he allowed it during the game. That decision was based on his correct understanding and interpretation of the Laws of the Game and indeed the FIGC advice.
On appeal the award of the goal was overturned by a committee of the FIGC based on the literal wording of the AIA advice to referees. That is not unusual as I have constant arguments about what words mean in a Laws sentence. AIA has now seen that it's wording advice can be used incorrectly on a literal basis and has quickly changed it to remove the potential for incorrect interpretation and also brings it in line with the Laws so that this can never happen again.
Yes you are correct that the Italian FA can do what it wishes and the team accepted its ruling body's decision for a replay. Had it decided to bring the matter further it would have found that the referee's decision was correct and the result would have stood.
As regards these back flip throw ins they are not restricted to North America only. One of the longest throwers in the world is in the UK. A player can do cartwheels, stand on his head do whatever but when he gets to throwing the ball in at the point where the ball left the field of play he must meet all the criteria of Law 15 and I quote
At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower
# faces the field of play
# has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line
# holds the ball with both hands
# delivers the ball from behind and over his head.
Now tell me what one of those points has been infringed? Having said that your point raises an important question. If a referee say allows/disallows a goal from such a throw in because he believes that the throw in is correct/ incorrect, should that be overturned on protest. Should a committee decide when the referee decides that it meets/does not meet the requirements of the Law
As regards NFHS rules which govern High School soccer in the US the body is not affiliated to USSF or FIFA and it simply uses the general concepts of association football. It can do whatever it pleases as it is not a member of IFAB nor is it bound by its Laws in any way.
By the way Law 14 of the Laws of the Game has not changed for 2011/2012. In Italy the AIA has issued new amended advice on law 14 which advises that should this incident happen again it is a goal and I assume preventing the goal award being overturned by the incorrect interpretation of a committee. All Italian referees knew that it was a goal anyway. Some administrators obviously did not.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Ref van Wieren, I agree that if you accept a game in a competition, you must abide by the rules of that competition. Even if those rules are contrary to the Laws of the Game, an illegal modification. The USSF has stated this repeatedly for its member referees.

As Ref McHugh notes, the Italian Federation has seen the error of its ways and has changed the interpretation.

US high school soccer is not played under the authority of USSF, so they are free to choose whatever rule set they wish. If a referee doesn't like it, he doesn't do those games.

I also don't see what is wrong with a flip throw. We cannot fall into the trap that something unconventional is automatically illegal.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

A flip throw must meet all the requirements of Law 15 in order to be legal.

Was the throw from the place where it left the field or within a metre of that spot?
Did the thrower use both hands?
Were both feet on or behind the touchline at the moment of the throw?
Did the throw come from behind and over the head?
Was the thrower facing the field?

If the answer to all of those is yes (and it generally is in a flip throw) then it is a legal throw. If one of those is not met, the referee may call it as an illegal throw, just as she would if in a conventional throw, the thrower put one foot completely over the line, etc.

But if you are a referee, you should know that?

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

See Question: 25225