Question Number: 30056

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/27/2016

RE: Travel Under 15

Rodney Plaskett of Hartsdale, New York USA asks...

What determines whether a kick should bea direct versus an indirect kick.

When a coach or manager is being unruly/abusive to the ref. What actions can the ref take?

WYSL New York Travel

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

1. Excuse me for being harsh, but really? Are you a referee and you weren't taught which fouls result in a direct free kick? Hint: There's 10 fouls that result in a DFK, listed in Law 12.

2. Dismiss him from the fields and surrounds. Make sure you include in your report the words, 'not behaving in a responsible manner' which is the only reason given in the Laws for dismissing a team official.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Rodney
DFK are penal offences that IF this FOUL occurs inside an opposition penalty area a PK (penalty kick is awarded). These restarts can score directly into the opposing goal
There are 10 such fouls and IF you are a referee this is intro stuff.
kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
trips or attempts to trip an opponent
jumps at an opponent
charges an opponent
strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
pushes an opponent
tackles an opponent
holds an opponent
spits at an opponent
and the one foul not involving an opponent handling the ball deliberately while it is in play

INDFK this restart is INDIRECT and covers all other infractions not of the 10 direct whereas it requires a 2nd touch by any player except the kicker MUST occur before a goal could occur. These type of infringements are technical in nature or simple misconduct actions. It is CRUCIAL though for a referee to raise his arm to indicate the free kick is in fact an INDFK .
offside, doublet touches, illegal entry, exit or re-entry onto the field, misconduct against non opponents. PIADM, illegal handling by the keeper are but a few.

The referee has the authority to warn and or remove the culprit at his discretion and record such in his match records. The tolerance level is of course subject to the character of those involved, what is said and how it is interpreted. Soccer is an emotional game! We cut SOME slack for disappointment, even dissent, if we think we might have missed something. No one likes to over react but confrontation creates ugly feelings in all those within earshot as much as those who do it and have it directed at. As a parent on the touchline I have advised those who are acting inappropriately to desist sometime with success some times told to f-off such is the temperament of some! As a referee ,NO one gets that to make such a choice without suffering the accountability of being removed or embarrassed ! If play is stopped solely to deal with the coach or manager the restart would be a drop ball from the ball location subject to the special circumstances within the goal area..
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Rodney,
As a referee, you need to be familiar with Law 12 - arguably, moreso than any other law. If you're not sure if a particular offence will be direct or indirect, then study Law 12 each night until you can state them all off the top of your head. Law 12 states which ones are direct and indirect. The more familiar you are with this law, the easier it will be to remember on the field. Most offences are direct free kick offences (thus, a penalty kick if committed inside the penalty area).

If a coach or manager is being abusive, normally you'll wait until the ball goes out of play. If it's particularly excessive and you need to stop play, you'll restart with a drop ball as this isn't covered anywhere in Law 12.
If you're stopping play to caution a player for dissent (you cannot stop play to simply warn a player), then this falls under the final Indirect Free Kick offence in Law 12: 'Any reason not previously specified for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player',

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rodney
Perhaps the simple way to look at it is that every free kick is direct with the exception of offside, technical offences committed by the goalkeeper inside his penalty area of which there are four, playing in a dangerous manner, double touch of the ball by a player, impeding an opponent and any other offence not mentioned in Law 12 for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player. So the indirect free kick other then for offside is extremely rare. Most free kicks involving an offence by a player on an opponent are direct whereas those that are technical, not involving an opponent such as involving the ball only are indirect.
In respect of the unruly coach referees should use the Ask, Tell and Dismiss approach to deal with the situation. A video of the approach can be viewed here
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oaaq6SlaiU
The directive can be viewed here.
http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0028/6566/Ask_Tell_Dismiss_May_2012.pdf