Question Number: 28899

Mechanics 10/25/2014

RE: Rec and competitive, youth as well Adult

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

In situations where there is a complete mess up and things are unclear, I feel it is more fair to blow it down and say that the restart will be 'on the whistle.'

In this throw-in case, the second team seemed to gain an unfair advantage from the confusion. The official could have been more clear from the beginning but failing that: a whistled restart would have had both teams prepared.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
That is a match control issue and referees will differ in their approach to this. It is not an unfair advantage just naive play. Far too often players who are dissenting a decision or a turnover are rewarded for that behaviour by the referee holding up play. I agree that in a situation where the referee has clearly made an error and he has *involved* himself in play that it is better to restart on the whistle. All that happened in this situation was that the referees decision was at odds with what one team thought should be the restart. They then argued and probably dissented the decision rather than getting set for the restart. Also from the question I suspect that Whites had thrown caution to the wind and placed it players in an attacking position. If the TI has gone to Blues without debate the same scenario would more than likely have unfolded anyway.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Barry,
interesting you hold the referee accountable for the teams being confused?
In this case is not the referee simply saying who gets the throw? When the team he thinks is not entitled is the one taking it? Does the fact that a team may disagree, really fall into unfair territory?

Going the ceremonial route is not without merit. There are rational reasons for ensuring fair play standards are not compromised. Situational uncertainty, in my opinion does not reflect unfair play nor compromise a team's ability to react appropriately. I much prefer attacking play to exploit the uncertainty then try and set everyone at ease that my decision is just.

IF and it is a conditional if, a referee is truly responsible for intervening, causing the confusion then I might agree with you. Like to first signal and award a throw in one way then go oh wait, I meant the other way. Now he has created the confusion, best make sure things are sorted, do not see that here! It may be his mechanics are suspect but as I always say, a referee is a match condition the players must adapt to! Not unlike the weather, rain or sunny or the pitch condition, dry or wet.
It is ALWAYS unwise to lose focus on restarts especially while dissenting the decision with the referee who is not engaging you.

I watched Canada get thumped 3 to 0 today. The fast, focused and always ready Japanese team watched us fall asleep on one restart because we substituted 2 players at once on a corner kick. They took a nice short corner on a set play and the ball was hammered in the back of our net! sigh.
NEVER lose focus.
The GAME is always in the on position, any good team gets it!
Cheers