Question Number: 28530

Law 17 - Corner Kick 6/19/2014

RE: Rec Under 11

Nate of Spokane, Washington United States asks...

This occurred in a U10 game at a small-sided (5v5) rec tournament. A girl was standing too close on a corner kick. When the ball was kicked, it hit her in the torso and knocked the wind out of her. I stopped play to deal with the injury. I realize that failure to respect distance is a cautionable offense, but I really didn't want to show a yellow card to a player walking off the field injured. For the restart, I had them re-take the corner kick. However, another referee watching the game said it should have been an IDFK for the attackers. Who is correct?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nate
The caution is not mandatory here and it is left to the discretion of the referee based on the circumstances. As the defending team has infringed Law 17 the kick is retaken NOT an IDFK.
Thinks about it. Would it not be better to give a corner kick where a goal can be scored directly and no offside from the kick? Plus the offence happened before the kick was in play so its a retake. Same as encroachment at a direct free kick. Why would it be downgraded to an IDFK from which a goal cannot be scored??

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

I think your restart was just. If you decided to hold up the kick because the injured player was not within the correct distance, the decision stands even though you were not able to communicate it before the kick. Warn as appropriate and then retake the corner kick.

Normally, on any free kick, including a corner kick, if the kicking team decides to take the kick notwithstanding that the opponent is not within the required distance, the kicking team cannot complain if the kick goes to an opponent who does nothing else to interfere with the kick (e.g., doesn't rush the kicker, stick out a leg, jump up, etc). Play should continue if the defender stood still (absent the injury).

When the referee stops play for an injury, the restart is a dropped ball. That was the other alternative restart for your consideration. (I would have retaken the CK.)

An IFK is appropriate when play is stopped for misconduct that is not a foul. An IFK would not be the appropriate restart in the situation that you describe because: (1) any misconduct occurred before the ball was in play, and (2) no card was shown.