Question Number: 30642

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/31/2016

RE: Under 14

John Andrews of Cygnet, Tasmania Australia asks...

What can a player call or not call? eg can a player call out 'mine' or is that still penalised?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi John,
Calling 'mine', 'I've got it' or something similar has never specifically been against the Laws of the Game. This is a myth that only seems to exist in English speaking countries. I suspect it comes from the fact that at young ages players are often taught to put a name to the ball, and somehow this has turned into many, many people thinking it's against the laws. Unfortunately, this myth pervades into the refereeing ranks - I've seen a number of referees, even quite experienced ones, award an indirect free kick for calling 'mine'.

It's only an offence if it's done as a deliberate distraction to an opponent. A similar example would be standing behind an opponent and saying 'leave it' or 'backheel', making the opponent think you're a teammate. But the laws do not permit an Indirect Free Kick only for this; the way the laws are written, if play is stopped for this then the player must be cautioned.

As such the referee would want to be certain that there has been that impact of deception on an opponent, which is very rare. But given that even some referees apply this law incorrectly, I would still recommend your players try to avoid using 'mine' or similar terms - although if they are penalised for doing so without it being a deliberate distraction to an opponent, it would be incorrect.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
Genuine communication between teammates is never an offence. So when a player says to a team mate *mine*, *pass* or *leave it* or whatever there is no offence.
Now unfortunately there is a myth in the game that shouting for the ball to a team mate without the use of a name is an IDFK offence. There is no such offence. There is an unsporting behaviour caution for verbally distracting an opponent during play or at a restart. An example would be a player saying LEAVE IT to an opponent and the opponent obliges. That is clearly unsporting, the player is cautioned and the restart is an IDFK.
Now unfortunately the myth of all no name shouts is omnipresent in the game which means that many in the game including referees award an IDFK incorrectly for this. It is wrong in Law yet it does not prevent it happening. So it could happen that an IDFK is incorrectly awarded for shouting MINE. The same shout of Peters Ball does not cause any issues. Indeed Peter could shout Joes Ball and that would be ignored whereas MY BALL or MINE may be questioned.
As Referee Wright points out if players want to ensure no sanction it can be best to use a name.