Question Number: 27598

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/12/2013

Larry of Danville, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 27586

Jason and Joe,
I think your interpretation is a bit off concerning a player closer than 10 yards during a free kick and who plays the ball. Jason, you stated it is fine for a defender to intercept the ball if he moves after the kick. And Joe, you stated it was fine if the defender did not move toward the kicker and moved at right angles onto the ball.

I don't think your positions are in keeping with ATR 13.4. which states:
' An attacking team may exercise its right to take a free kick when the players see an advantage to do so even with an opponent closer than the minimum distance. However, they may not thereafter claim infringement of the distance requirement if the ball is kicked to an infringing opponent who is able to control the ball without moving toward it. In this case, because the attacking side considered the encroachment trivial, the referee must accept what he or she has seen.

On the other hand, when the attacking team has exercised the option to restart play quickly and the opponent closer than the required distance moves toward the ball and performs an act that makes a difference in the play, such as blocking the kick, that player has committed an offense that must be dealt with firmly in accordance with the Law.'

This was also addressed on Ask A Soccer Referee on August 30, 2010, when it was still sanctioned by USSF. They provided several situations describing how to manage a free kick. Situation 5 is when a defender 'obviously less than 10 yards from the spot of the kick, lunges toward or makes some other type of movement to intercept and obstruct the path of the ball once it was kicked. In other words, if the defender had stood still the ball would have continued past this defender on its own path.' With this situation they state we should stop play and caution the defender for FRD.

The ATR is not differentiating between an acceptable and unacceptable restart based on the movement of the defender relative to the spot of the kick, but relative to the ball. Therefore when the player moves toward the ball, even if it is after the ball is kicked, it should be considered an infringement. If we all would start throwing out yellow cards for
FRD, we wouldn't have to worry about it after about one weekend of games. Just saying :)

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Larry
Thanks for your follow up.
The interpretation I gave was an opinion based on the Laws of the Game not the USSF's ATR. Having said that I don't believe there is any difference as the defender in my interpretation has simply intercepted the ball. The defender has not come closer to the ball nor has he prevented the kick from being taken nor has he blocked the kick. To quote Mr Allen's site
'' Interception occurs when the defending player, as the ball is kicked, either moves to the side or sticks his/her foot to the side to play the ball; there is NO forward motion.''
To expect a player to not move right or left or up on a ball that is coming close to him on a QFK in every situation is not tenable and the law makers knew that when it gave the two options. The Laws could simply have said that any defending player touching the ball within 10 yards is a retake but instead it gives the referee two options. The kicking team when the QFK has been taken has to accept the outcome once the referee determines that it is an interception.
To give an example. A free kick is awarded some 25 yards from goal. There are some defenders around the ball with one at 8 yards who was in that position at the time of the foul and a forward decides that there is an opportunity for a QFK. He spots the ball, checks with the referee and he scores. Goal awarded.
Now let's say that the same defender who is 8 yards away sees the kick being taken and as it comes past him he sticks out a leg to his side to intercept or deflect the ball away. That is not an offence and the kicking team has to accept that.
Now if on the other hand the defender sees the QFK and he charges towards the ball that is FRD, a caution and a retake provided of course he was successful

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

As Ref McHugh notes, moves toward the ball has been defined as moving forward. Moving sideways to intercept a ball that is in play is not an offense. I may not like that interpretation - and in some instances it clearly leads to an unfair result - but that's what we are told to live with.

I agree with your last sentence. If we'd crack down on those players who are clearly within 10 yards - many of them only 3-5 yards - we'd get this to stop. If I see a player come from a distance and move to clearly within 10 yards, I will caution. Too many referees just hold up the kick and make him move back. That defender has accomplished his mission - preventing a quick kick - with the aid of the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I would point out, Larry, that neither Jason nor Joe are USSF referees and not bound by any USSF interpretations.

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

See Question: 27601