Question Number: 30358

Law 13 - Free Kicks 4/27/2016

RE: Competive High School

Clint of Erie, PA USA asks...

The ref awarded a direct kick after a foul. When she was setting the wall the team taking the kick moved the ball forward. The defending team pointed it out and she asked her AR who confirmed the ball was moved. She moved the ball back about 2yds, blew her whistle, and instructed the attacking team not to touch the ball. They deliberatley ignored her and placed the ball with their hands. She responded by whistling handeling and awarded a free kick to the other team. Is the attacking team allowed to replace the ball after being moved by the ref or was she correct in her call?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Clint
As the ball was not in play there could not have been any deliberate handling call. What has happened here was misconduct which is a yellow card for unsporting conduct and the restart does not change.
I suspect that the referee was none too pleased about the movement of the ball in the first instance, plus it is then repeated after the ignoring of her express instructions.
Referees never have an issue with resetting the ball which may need to occur if the ball moves into a depression etc. unless of course it is done to delay the restart or for unsporting reasons or if it is contrary to the rules such at a goal kick.

Answer provided by Referee James Sowa

Clint,

The referee applied the laws incorrectly here. She had every right to move the ball back. Once the attacking team moves it again, she can caution the player for delaying the restart but this would not change the actual restart which would still be a DFK.

That said, if the referee believed that the restart was wrong (ie a foul going the other way) she could change the direction. This does not appear to be the case in this situation though.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Clint,
When the ball is out of play for a free kick, no further offence can change the direction of the restart. The free kick cannot be taken away. I've heard of referees claiming this is deliberate handling - a highly incorrect interpretation as that can only occur while the ball is in play (and players are permitted to use their hands to reposition the ball).
The referee should have dealt with this by giving the players a firm warning or cautioning the player involved if she was still trying to move the ball forwards.
Some referee may caution the attacking team on the first offence here.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Clint,
The correct ruling should have been a caution to the player that picked up and moved the ball. The caution would be for unnecessary delay. The restart would still be the original direct kick as the misconduct occurred when the ball was out of play. Hopefully, this referee has been informed of her incorrect ruling and has learned from the experience. I hope that your team will make it to Hershey or Harrisburg this fall.