Question Number: 26034

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/5/2012

RE: Any Adult

Gwyn Williams of Bridgewater, NJ USA asks...

A defender takes a throw in near his goal and it bounces to a team mate who heads it to his keeper who picks it up. No attackers are nearby.
It seems that the result should be an IDFK. But what for? And would a yellow card be appropriate?
If - as a referee - you do not consider this to be trickery - does it come under USB?
Where would the kick be taken from?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Gwyn
The referee has to consider whether this was a set play to circumvent Law 12. If it 'just happened' then there is no offence and play continues. One has to take into account that the ball is available to be challenged for at the throw in so it can be considered doubtful circumvention if at all. If the ball is caught by the goalkeeper and put into play smartly I would be giving the benefit of any doubt.
If it was seen as a clear time wasting ploy it would certainly be circumvention which is a caution and an IDFK from where the player headed the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

In most situations, the referee should do nothing. Everyone had an opportunity to play the ball after it was thrown and after it was headed.

Trickery to circumvent the law is very apparent (defender usually flicks the ball from the feet to the head and then heads it to the keeper) and very rare. Referees don't need to go looking for it.

If the referee views that this is misconduct by the defender heading the ball, player should be stopped as soon as the act of trickery occurs. The restart is an IDFK from where the trick occurred.

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

See Question: 26046