Question Number: 25548

Law 5 - The Referee 10/3/2011

RE: Competitve Under 19

AJ of Tustin, CA USA asks...

A foul was called in the middle of the field. Referee points restart in the wrong direction. Before restart is taken and approximately 10 seconds after the signal in the wrong direction, the referee corrects the restart direction and verbally announces his decision. The team now given the restart takes an immediate kick. A goal was scored from a combination play off the restart. The opposing coach argued that his defender should have been allowed to set up given the referee's original decision was corrected. I did not find anything on this in the LOTG and wonder if the restart should have required a whistle given the correction made by the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi AJ
The Laws of the Game does not stipulate a whistle to restart play in such circumstances. However as the teams have been set up expecting play in a particular direction with the referee having to 'correct' his call that IMO requires the referee to use some common sense and not to allow play restart until both side are ready. It is patently unfair if a team has moved forward expecting to take a free kick and the ball is turned over to the opponents.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I agree, this restart should have been made ceremonial.

Our colleague Jim Allen says the same on his website, which presents official interpretations of USSF: http://www.askasoccerreferee.com/?p=1722

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee made a poor decision. The referee should have held up the kick until the teams were ready. The defense has no right on a free kick, except the right not to be confused by something the referee says or does.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

I have to admit I've found myself in a similar decision. Sometimes referees simply forget which team is going which way.

When that happens the referee certainly should change the decision, despite the fact that this will probably upset the players.

When I've been in this situation, I've then delayed the restart until the defence is ready. In most cases the referee should not do this for the benefit of the defence as the free kick is supposed to benefit the attack, but in a situation where the defence has been pulled out of position due to a referee mistake, the referee should definitely hold up the restart until the defence are prepared.

Of course, the team will probably argue that they're not allowed to take advantage of the defence being out of position, but obviously it would be incredibly unfair to allow the team to capitalise on the referee's error by taking advantage of the fact that the error has put one team out of position.

While there's nothing specific in the laws about this situation, good refereeing should have seen the referee wait until the defence are prepared. This would minimise the effects of his error as much as possible.

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

See Question: 25558