Question Number: 30144

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/25/2016

RE: comp High School

Mark of Hayden, Idaho USA asks...

Player on White team awarded DFK for a foul deep in attacking 1/3 near the corner, 25 yards or more from goal.

Referee is very close, within 2 yards of where foul was committed, and standing next to the White player as he sets the ball to take the free kick.

REd player who committed the foul has his back to the ball (facing his own goal & communicating with his keeper about setting the a wall. He is 2-3 yards from the ball and slowly walking away from it.

Several REd players have taken up position in front of the goal.
1 White team mate is 5 yards from the ball and calling for a drop-pass. Another white team mate is at the top of the 18 calling for a pass.

The fouled White player, still obviously angry about the foul, lines up the free kick with the retreating REd player, and blasts the ball into the back of his head, knocking the Red player to the ground.
Ball deflects out of play across the goal line, outside of the goal.

Referee cautions the White player taking the kick and shows the yellow card for Unsporting Behavior, awards DFK to REd team at spot where kick was taken.

1. Referee apparently felt that White player intentionally struck Red player with the ball in retaliation for the foul... but if the White player didn't THROW the ball at him, can this be an infraction?
2. IF the referee has opined that the White player STRUCK the Red player; could not a case also be made that the infraction is Violent Conduct, and therefore a red card instead of a yellow card?
3. Can a player be penalized for kicking a ball at an opponent (either from a free-kick or while the ball is in-play)?

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Mark,

The only violation for kicking the ball at an opponent is by the goalkeeper. (Rule 12-1-3), and this results in a direct kick.

In your example, the referee deemed that unsporting conduct occurred. Although the list of unsporting conducts does not include kicking the ball at an opponent, the listing is not a complete one as is indicated in Rule 12-8-1f which states that there are other possible unsporting conducts that are not included in the list. Apparently, the referee decided that his was one of them. Also, the referee can make decisions on any point not specifically covered in the rules. (Rule 5-3-2g)

As to calling this a violent act, I think that this would be a hard call to sell because although it may be unsporting, I would not consider this act violent. but as the referee, you could deem it violent conduct which as indicated in Rule 18-1-qq is the commission of a violent act against an opponent........when the ball is either in or out of play. Of course, if you did this, the kicker would be disqualified.

Based on what you stated, I would probably at the least talk to the kicker and tell him to cool down, and restart the game with a corner kick; however, being in position to see that the intent of the kicker was indeed unsporting, I might do as your referee did, and caution the kicker.

I hope that this helps and that you will have a successful high school season this fall.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
Interesting scenario and one that does happen from time to time. Referee Manjone has given the relevant rules in this case.
Now the best person to judge this is the referee. Game management is one of those skills that cannot be easily explained. One can always tell when a referee has managed a game well. The official has played a critical role in the contest without becoming the central focus. In other words, he has recognised that his role was one of a manager of the game and that he dealt well with all the flash points appropriately.
In addition the most successful referees are the ones who have developed the ability to establish a *feel for the game*. These officials are able to *read the game* and react to the different incidents to maintain good control with few problems. The referee will deal promptly and fairly with the most significant incidents to ensure that safety and fairness in the game becomes the focus. FIFA calls this Fingerspitzengefühl literally: *sensing with one's fingertips* and describes a great situation awareness, and the ability to respond most appropriately and tactfully. Perhaps if the incident was not dealt with player could decide to take action themselves.
In this case the referee because of his proximity to the incident has opined that the player had deliberately kicked the ball at the opponent in response to the foul. Clearly it would have looked to the referee as an attempt to hit the opponent with the ball rather than a genuine restart to find a teammate. He was also of the opinion that the action was reckless rather than using excessive force hence the caution. Now that is the tricky part and the referee gave White the huge benefit of the doubt. Interestingly if the ball had been thrown at the players head it would easily have been a dismissal and a red card with probably less force used than the kick. I have in these instances seen players try to get opponents cautioned for delaying the restart by kicking the ball off the opponent legs and I rarely if ever oblige.
Now while I commend the referee for getting on top of this I also would question him on the manner of the Red players foul on White and his lack of control at the restart. Was it the final straw? Was there frustration building in the game? Was Red acting in an unsporting fashion? The referee will also take into account previous incidents in the game such as other flash points, speaking with players, warnings etc
In a recent game I detected that a player was getting frustrated and he sort of attempted to kick out on the ground after a player in a challenge and he missed him completely. I blew the whistle and he questioned what it was for as there was no contact. I told him that he knew exactly why it was called and if he continued with that type of behaviour he would be cautioned. A few minutes later he was cautioned and about 15 minutes later he was off for a 2nd caution. While he was somewhat aggrieved I had absolutely no problems with his team mates or management as they saw I gave him ample scope to change his behaviour and that he chose otherwise. His actions were uncalled for resulting in his dismissal.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mark,

No referee should be setting the ball on the ground, he might mark with foam or demand if a PK it is placed correctly as to where but only the kicker should set that ball.

On a free kick the ball must be kicked into play. So if the restart location is not an issue there must be a overriding action to create a infraction of VC on a ball travelling 3 feet into the back of the head of an opponent walking away slowly. The fact a ball is directed into an opponent's head is being seen by the official as a violent action strike that endangered the safety of an opponent in an excessive fashion, forcing a showing of a red card and a send off reducing the team by a player is a HUGE deal. He has declared your intent was not to put the ball into play but you grievously tried to injure your opponent. A head shot , ALWAYS looks bad! If it was directed at his legs, bum, or hip you might be downgraded as a USB act or reckless thus only cautionable but if your actions create such an intense aura , if the official feels the intent, palpable animosity to hurt the other guy, if you said something, body actions, tone fists clenched wild actions or accusations hard to fault reaching for red instead of yellow or passing it off as a no call as part of direct play

As you note kicking a ball is rarely viewed in that light? It is perfectly acceptable on an INDFK spotted at the edge of the goal area to pound a ball as hard as you wish at those defenders /keeper lined up on the goal line and under the crossbar between the posts only 6 yids away. Same on any free kick at ten yards as well! It is also permitted to kick a ball quickly if opponents are not farther away then ten yards but the risk is assumed by the attackers for failing to wait until the full ten are achieved.

The opposition by law MUST on a free kick withdraw a MINIMUM of 10 yards. Referees who fail to act upon such dalliances create a series of time delays and ill will as well as forcing the attackers to request he do so and soon all free kicks are ceremonial in nature. Sigh
The fact a referee is aware of the conflict, he was close and has a presence, he can defuse tensions by responding to the temper of the participants with some well chosen words, separate the combatants , ensure the opposition is in fact retreating in a timely fashion from the point if the restart. I often call out TEN YARDS NOW! to remind players that I do not permit lollygagging about on the part of defenders without directly intervening to create ceremonial restarts. I do not want attackers to HAVE to ask me for ten yards although I would respect such a request. I may not permit a defender to stand directly in front of the restart position without cautioning him quickly if he fails to act properly and withdraw. I might talk to a fouled player if it was a tough tackle but awarded no cards if I realized he was seeking payback. We can not always prevent a player from acting foolishly but we can set the field into a more relaxed version of itself by ensuring players are held accountable for their actions.
Cheers