Question Number: 28461

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/27/2014

RE: Rec, Select Under 13

John Sendrey of Costa Mesa, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 28451

The passback occurs after 00:50 in this video:
http://www.lagalaxy.com/video/2014/05/21/la-galaxy-vs-fc-dallas-highlights#ooid=8zcGcwbjpnufVbDSMUTVS8vx_l7OCd5R&ootime=50s

Here is the full restart footage (my own video I recorded at the game when things looked wrong): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur_CmQY40DY

Here is the discussion in another forum:
http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/la-galaxy-vs-fc-dallas-no-results-implied.2005020/

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
This is the reason I don't like the application of this Law. Its a 'cheap' free kick causing all sorts of problems for the referee.
Had this situation happened in Europe there is every chance that the referee could deem that the touch by the player was to control the ball for himself not a deliberate kick to the goalkeeper and play would be allowed to continue. Certainly if the touch had been stronger then it is mis-control and any doubt would be eliminated.
The part that is definitely wrong is the positioning of the IDFK that is assuming that the referee knew the offence happened inside the goal area. In which case the IDFK should have been brought out to the 6 yard line.
Anyway IFAB to fix one problem of the constant passing to the goalkeeper has created another. This was 5 minutes into the game and to me it was just part of play. The intention of the defender was not to kick the ball to the goalkeeper but rather to prevent a corner.