Question Number: 30520

Law 13 - Free Kicks 6/17/2016

RE: 15 Other

Carlos santos of Plainville , Ct USA asks...

REF calls a fault outside the box 30 yards away .ref marks the spot with spray can ,but player does NOT ask for 10 yards he wants to take the. Kick quickly does he has to wait for the whistle ??

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Carlos
Yes the player must wait for the whistle as the referee has now decided it is ceremonial. Vanishing spray use in football is not regulated by the Laws of the Game, authorisation being in the hands of the governing body of a match, league, or tournament. So it is a rule of competition.
Once the spray has been used to mark the ball position the free kick is then ceremonial and the player must wait until the 10 yards have been enforced fully and the markings complete with the referee ready to continue. The free kick can then only be taken on the whistle.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Carlos,
Once the referee has intervened with the kick (eg by using the spray, walking the wall back, handling the ball, etc) then it has become ceremonial. A quick kick is only possible if the referee hasn't intervened in the kick (telling defenders to maintain 10 yards may not be enough of an intervention to turn it into ceremonial, but I believe once it's more than a shout or two, the referee needs to let the players be and caution if retreat still doesn't occur, or make it ceremonial).

The referee should give attackers a few moments to decide if they want it quickly. Some referee like to ask the attackers, some will usually make an assumption based on the behaviour and body language of the attackers and only ask if it's unclear. The attacking team always has the right unless the referee needs to intervene (eg to issue a card or allow a substitution), but once the referee has intervened it is ceremonial.