Question Number: 27692

Law 15 - Throw In 8/26/2013

RE: High School High School

Lucy of Saint Paul, MN United States asks...

A few times during a recent game, I would call a throw in to one team, only to have both teams look at me and yell at me, telling me I made the wrong call. A member of the team I thought kicked it out would have already picked up the ball and the opposing player backed off to get in position. I know the players can probably see who kicked it out better than me. However I had already signaled in one direction. What do I do in this situation? Do I let the team have the ball and re-signal appropriately? Or do I enforce what I thought I saw, so as not to discredit myself?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Lucy
It is unusual for both side to protest about a wrong call. Generally it is one team only that protests with the other team accepting the call. If both teams agree that the call is wrong then I would simply go with their decision. I might say " I'm sorry I did not see that last touch" . When it is genuine players appreciate honesty.
Sometimes players don't even see or feel the last touch and are insistent that they did not touch the ball last. I had one so blatant at the end of last season that I could not believe that the player protested when I was stood three yards from him and saw clearly that it came off him.
Also a little bit of advice here. If you are unsure wait a second to see the reactions of the players. They can give tell tale signs of direction such as a player backing off and another player picking up the ball or taking up positions for what they believe will be the restart.
I had one at the weekend and I thought it was a corner. Goalkeeper went to get the ball for the goal kick and the attackers moved away. I went with the goal kick and that was the 'correct' decision. No one was any the wiser that I thought it was a corner nor did they need to.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Sometimes it is easy to change your signal on a throw-in. Blow the whistle. Indicate a tip (flip the top of one hand with the other), and point in the correct direction. In the situations you mention, where both teams accept and are ready, they will be happy with the change.

Sometimes, you realize you made the wrong decision. Use the same process. But, if one team has acted in reliance on your first signal, hold up the restart until the other team gets into position.

If you wait and see before signalling the restart, you will find that the players are often giving you clues what they think just happened.