Question Number: 29828

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/18/2015

RE: etc Under 13

Simon from Barcaldine of Barcaldine, Queensland Australia asks...

I was at a youth competition on Gold Coast recently, watching an u12 game, I saw something that was obviously a planned coaches play. A DFK awarded to red team, just outside blues PA. 3 forwards around ball, having a talk about what to do. The defenders, and ref setting up wall in PA. Whistle blown, and 2 of the forwards have raised their talk to a few yelled comments, and one pushes the other over, just as the 3rd forward kicks ball into PA. Some players jump, but another red forward gets to the ball unopposed and ball goes out for goal kick. The 2 arguing players congratulate themselves on a successful execution of a feign to distract defenders.

Now this strikes me as a gimmick, and as such I dont see any merit in allowing it to continue. A GK re-start is safe, but the issue is had a goal been scored, is that 'play' appropriate? Im thinking stop play and issue a card for USB (not VC at this age), and re-start with an IDFK to blue team where push over occurred will ensure it not happen again.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Simon,
be careful my good fellow a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
I was ok until the push! Better it look accidental than deliberate! It could look like VC and could get the player sent off! If the push occurs... prior.. to the shot, so the restart will stay a DFK if you were to punish the push as a form of misconduct. If the push occurred after the ball was put into play then if you thought it (by it I mean the push , the feint aspect is not really an issue)as actionable misconduct, than an INDFK restart out is correct .

I have seen similar tactics where it looks like they are arguing who will take the kick, then a third player suddenly takes it or it gets distributed in such a way as to surprise the opposition.
Yet I have seen players in heated exchanges with no deception simply each one wanted to take it and the other was not willing to let them lol
Only if those doing the distraction had purposefully engaged opponents in verbal or physical altercations is there reason to think caution. Arguing and gesturing between teammates not likely to raise flags but a deliberate striking, pushing or kicking in any manner could be taking it a bit far if these actions could be viewed as misconduct.
Cheers

all good examples of distraction that lead to a good goal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yT5GPW-ggw

The contact although theatrical was never going to be seen as misconduct

http://the18.com/news/what-these-ladies-completely-fool-arsenal-clever-free-kick

Brilliant free kick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIqjk2H_C9k

The lifting kick where the ball is scooped is fine by the way!

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Simon,

I can appreciate the idea behind this, and ignoring the push I'd argue that this is a permissible tactic.

The push, however, escalates this to the point where the referee must intervene. And there's the very real risk that the referee will view it as violent conduct and send off the offender. Failing that, a yellow card is still quite likely. The referee should have stepped in here - even if it's clear that it's part of the act, that's still going too far.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Simon
Interesting and not the first time I have seen this. The ploy of creating a distraction to shift the defenders attention away from their task has been around for a long time.
Now the question the referee has to ask is did this go too far along with issue that the referee should be concerned about two players engaged in verbals, physicality etc. Once distracted the referee should be on the whistle stopping play and dealing with both players appropriately.
Also did the actions amount to verbally distracting an opponent at during play or at a restart in which case that is a cautionable offence. If the ball is in play it is an IDFK restart or a retake if the offence happened before the kick was taken.
Also could the actions be deemed as unsporting behaviour feinting under Law 13? I believe it did.
I personally do not like ruse plays or practises that go beyond acceptable feinting. My take on these that when the opponents feel that they have been duped by sharp practise as distinct from what is expected it should be dealt with. Soccer can take guidance here from its laws and from other sports that expect the game be played in a manner where skill, strength, speed etc are the defining attributes rather than ruses that are just unsporting. It is typically enshrined in Laws 13 & 14 which does not allow unsporting feinting which does not give the opponent/s a fair chance. I personally would not allow this.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If they get too good at feigning an argument, I might just decide that one of the players committed violent conduct against the other. Hmm, is a send-off worth it? And if it doesn't rise to the level of VC, it's at least unsporting behavior.

These guys probably didn't come up with this gimmick by themselves. Maybe if the coach sees his players getting carded, he'll try real coaching.