Question Number: 26605

Law 13 - Free Kicks 8/7/2012

RE: Competive Adult

Carlo of Toronto, Ontario Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 337

Down 2-1 cup game last 10 mins. Free kick whipped into the box, header around the penalty spot deflected off defender and offensive player came around the back and finished. Team all began celebrating and chasing the player only to realize the goal had been called offside. The referee allowed the team to take a quick free kick and basically sent a player on a clear breakaway from center, 3-1.

Should the ref have stopped the quick free kick? The offside call was very close

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Carlo
If it is offside then the restart is an IDFK to the defense where the offence took place. It is not the responsibility of the referee to ensure that player are in place ready for the QFK.
The scoring team should first have ensured it was a goal which included looking at the referee and the assistant for confirmation particularly on a close call.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Unless the referee needs to intervene (say, to move the wall back at the request of the attack, to attend a player injury, or to caution a player, to name just a few), the team being awarded possession always has the right to a quick free kick.

I can't see any reason for the referee to intervene here - the opposing team should have glanced across at the AR/ref to ensure it was a goal. It's only their fault that they were out of position.

The team that eventually scored did well to capitalise on the situation.

Don't forget, the ball still had to travel the full length of the field to score, and I'm sure it still had to get through a number of players first.

So really, the fact that the team celebrated early isn't the full reason that their opponents were allowed to score.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Was the referee required to hold up the free kick? No. A team generally has the right to take a quick free.

Would it be good idea to hold up the free kick? Yes. The ball is near the kicker's goal, and the kicking team isn't disadvantaged if the referee holds up play to explain to the players why an apparent goal has been disallowed. The referee is not required to explain calls, but game management (and the referee's credibility) is enhanced by doing so. The laws give discretion to the referee to hold up a restart for the good of the game. This sounds like a good place to use that discretion