Question Number: 27395

Law 13 - Free Kicks 5/5/2013

RE: Rec, Select, Competitive Under 14

Dana of Charlotte, NC USA asks...

Does the goal count in the following scenario?

AR waives flag for a foul that Center Referee (CR) does not see in detail. CR blows the whistle to stop play for the foul. CR asks AR if it's indirect. CR believes AR confirms that it is indirect. CR responds to players' requests that it's indirect several times. CR holds one arm up for an extended time to show it's indirect. Player takes the kick and ball goes directly into the other team's goal without it being touched by another player. CR and AR are not on same page as to next steps and discuss the matter. During discussion, AR states that earlier he confirmed for a direct kick, not indirect. CR makes the call to disallow the goal as the clear call on the field was for an indirect kick.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dana
Once the referee signalled that the free kick was indirect with the extended arm no goal can be scored directly. It reads that the decision was also conveyed verbally.
Poor team work by the referee crew but it is the actions of the referee that matters not the AR's advice. If the AR thought it should have been direct then he should have clearly stated that to the referee before the kick not afterwards.
Also there is no recognised signal by an assistant for an indirect free kick offence. It is the same signal so the communication with the referee has to be verbal.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The free kick should have been retaken. The referee crew misled the teams by giving the wrong signal.

Better communication would have led to the kick being signaled and taken correctly.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the referee signals indirect for a direct free kick offense, he has misapplied the Law and this should be corrected by a retake with a direct free kick. While it is true there is no universal signal for an AR to use to tell the CR it;s an Indirect that is something that simply must be gone over in pregame.

In this question it's inconceivable that the referee could have a conversation with his AR and still get it wrong. But get it wrong he did. He clearly mislead the players so a goal cannot be awarded. Poor communication but the referee has to correct the mistake and award a retake only this time a direct free kick.