Question Number: 27628

Law 13 - Free Kicks 7/29/2013

RE: social Adult

JONATHAN MATTHEW of Phoenix, Natal South Africa asks...

During a game I awarded a free kick. The defending side captain screamed at his player to stand in front of the ball. I yellow carded this player for failure to respect the distance for a free kick. Was this the correct decision as the coach of the team said I must count the required 10 yards and it was a biased decision by me. Every player knows he must stand 10 yards from the ball during a free kick or corner, so when a player stands with his leg on the ball that zero yards. Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Jonathan,

Your decision sounds correct. It may have been worth having a word with the captain as well regarding his actions in this.

It is the responsibility of the defence to retire 10 yards at a free kick. If they run up to the ball to stop the free kick then this is a blatant attempt to hold up play and is cautionable.

Free kicks are about returning advantage to the attack, not about giving the defence time to organise - and unless the referee needs to hold up play for any reason, the attack always has the right to a quick free kick.

As such, the defence always have the obligation to retire 10 yards.

I've come across the same problem myself quite a few times.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jonathan
The malaise that is standing in front of a ball at a free kick. You were perfectly entitled to caution the player for 'failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in'. There is no requirement to count ten yards and that is a totally different situation as the restart is on the referee's whistle.
However many referees will only caution if the player has in fact 'interfered' with the restart by either preventing it or stopping the ball after it is kicked or the referee has already given a warning that this tactic is not to happen.
Other times the kicking team may be happy to wait for the required distance to be enforced and therefore they do not feel disadvantaged by tactic. In which case a 'warning' would be appropriate.
The problem for the referee is that he has to be consistent here. Once one is cautioned then every single similar incident must be dealt with by a caution as well.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Jonathan, I'm glad to say you were correct. And if more referees had the fortitude to do the right thing like you, we'd have far fewer instances of players running in from a distance to prevent the quick free kick. Good job.