Question Number: 26308

Law 13 - Free Kicks 5/8/2012

RE: High School

Dan of London, Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26292

Can there be any rational in awarding a goal kick or throw in when the player from behind makes contact and actually pushes the player out of touch forcing the ball carrier to be the last player to touch the ball before before it goes out
In the case could we be justified in awarding a goal kick or throw in for the player who actually touched it last?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Adults may accept that the fiction that offender 'must have' touched the ball or 'it' would have been called as a foul, thus, accepting goal kick/throw-in as the restart. But, it usually is wiser to call the foul with teenagers (reducing the risk of retaliation) or when it is absolutely clear to everyone that the offender could not possibly have touched the ball. .

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dan
No there cannot be any justification for reversing the decision on who touched the ball last. If a player is fouled causing him to touch the ball last then that should be a free kick restart not the goal kick, corner kick or throw in.
The referee can make a decision to go with the goal kick instead of the free kick where the referee believes that the ball was out of play before the offence was committed and the goal kick is the correct restart anyway.
Players are always quick to criticise what is seen to be the wrong decision on a restart so the free kick will be viewed as a different decision entirely ruling out the who touched it last decision. If there is no offence the restart is a corner kick or throw in to the opponents