Question Number: 27072

Law 13 - Free Kicks 12/17/2012

RE: rec Adult

CT of Abbotsford, BC canada asks...

In situations where a player is going to take a free kick and has asked for 10 yards and then takes the kick before the whistle (after the ref has said not to take the kick until he/she blows the whistle) - what action would be taken if a goal is scored and if a goal is not scored?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Once the free kick becomes ceremonial play cannot restart until the referee is ready and the whistle sounds. Once the kick is taken the outcome is ignored and the free kick is retaken in all circumstances. At the highest level a player would expect to be cautioned for taking the free kick before the whistle. At lower levels referees may adopt a more lenient approach perhaps by admonishing the player for his action.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Retake the kick. The ball was never put in play because the referee's permission was not given.

Before enforcing the distance after a request on a free kick, the referee should loudly announce 'Wait for the whistle' and add a visual clue by holding the whistle in front of the face. That way, if the kick is taken without permission, everyone knows it was improper. (It also avoids the issue that the kicker didn't want the distance enforced but a teammate made the request). No goal can be allowed.

More controversial is the retake when the improper kick sails over the top of the goal. Some will say that it is unfair to let them kick again, yet they would not find it so fair to allow the goal. Moreover, if the referee does nothing the first time it happens (because a goal kick resulted) and then disallows a goal when the other team does exactly the same thing, credibility will suffer. Retaking the kick every time this happens avoids the perception that the referee is favoring one team or the other.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

First, the referee should do as Ref Wickham describes. He should, before marking off the 10 yards, hold his whistle at eye level and loudly tell all, especially the kicker that we are not proceeding until the whistle is blown.
This will usually prevent what happened.
If the kick proceeds BEFORE the whistle is blown, the referee should blow the whistle immediately, hopefully before the ball has entered or not entered the net. Regardless, since the kick was not properly taken, it must be retaken.

At low level of play, unless this is a repeat occurrence, a caution usually is not given but a few stern words not to do that again will suffice.

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

See Question: 27117