Question Number: 28507

Law 13 - Free Kicks 6/15/2014

RE: u-20 Adult

Dan O'Leary of East Brookfield, MA USA asks...

In our game this weekend the referee called a free kick 20 yds out in the middle of the penalty ark area.He placed the ball and walked 20 paces off and then turned, then other team shot and scored to tie the game at 1-1. When asked why no whistle to start play he responded he did not have to because we did not ask for 20 yds. We never saw or heard of this before.Was he correct, and do we have a recourse?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Dan,

The attacking team (almost) always has the right to take a free kick quickly - without a whistle. Remember, the purpose of the free kick is to restore the advantage to the team that was fouled, so they should be able to take advantage of a disorganised defence (after all, before the foul the defending team didn't have 10-11 players behind the ball).

Usually when it's around the penalty area it becomes a ceremonial free kick - most players expect it; not many are aware of the right to take it quickly.

Often the referee will approach the site of a foul to manage the foul and to ensure the ball is placed correctly. As long as that's done, the players can take it quickly unless the attacking team have asked for the 10 yards (the defending team do not have the right to ask). Then the referee advises the kicker to wait for the whistle, moves the wall back, moves into position, then blows the whistle. If the attacking team have not decided to wait for this the referee does not have to do anything to advise of the quick kick.

Of course, referees should be careful their actions don't sound/look like preparations for a ceremonial kick - for instance, once he starts walking defenders back, he's effectively made the restart ceremonial and it should be on the whistle.

Aside from that, the only time the attackers don't have the right to a quick free kick is when the referee needs to intervene - eg to caution a player, attend to an injury/sub, or some other matter.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dan
The question has to be asked as to whether the appropriate distance was required on the free kick. If the referee did not intervene, moving the defending team back 10 yards then a whistle is not required.
Many referees rather than risking the ire of the defending team by not restarting on the whistle make most free kicks in this area 'ceremonial' which requires a whistle. I have though seen plenty of goals scored on a quick free kick in these situations when a whistle has not been used. I have incurred the wrath of many teams on such restarts and as I have said to them a whistle is not required for every free kick restart.
Here is a clip of a free kick in the 2013 Irish FAI Cup final.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrbVkP6d4m0&t=3m33s
The referee awards a free kick and then enforces the 10 yards. As he walks back with everything set he fails to signal the restart. Obviously the goal stood and caused uproar among the Blue team with one player sent off for his protest as a result of a 2nd caution. There was no recourse here and many argued that the Blue team was not disadvantaged by the no whistle. The wall was in place, the goalkeeper was correctly positioned and the defenders were positioned for offside. Some argued that by not allowing the goal the conceding team would have benefited twice by committing the foul in a scoring position and then using a technicality to get a retake. Had the referee blown the whistle as he stepped one yard back from the defensive wall there would have been zero complaints. Very poor mechanics though not an error in Law.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

This was an error. Once the referee says or does anything to interfere with the kick (such as walking off the distance to set the wall), play must restart with a whistle. Note: when the referee does nothing, the kicking team is entitled to put the ball immediately into play. There is no right to set a wall. The only right the defense has on a free kick is not to be misled by what the referee says or does.

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