Question Number: 30933

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/21/2016

RE: Under 19

Brian of Brooklyn, NY USA asks...

Re free kicks.

Is the team that has been awarded the free kick permitted to take the kick further back (say,to widen the angle)from the spot marked by the referee?If yes,does this mean that the wall can move forward but still remain 10 yards away or does the wall remain fixed at 10 yards away from the original mark?

Thanks gents,

Brian.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Brian,
Blade of grass restarts are principally from goal scoring positions so restart location is NOT going to move. You might get some leeway further away but no, its not golf ,where you keep the foul spot in front of you between the hole and the obstacle. You might notice at he elite level they use foam to mark, It is SPECIFICALLY to ensure the ball remains and the wall obtains ten yards!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
The free kick is taken from the point of the foul and that is defined by the referee should there be any question about the location. Many times out the field away from goal a yard or so is trifling. Not so in front of goal on a ceremonial free kick. What should not happen is that once the ball is spotted that the player moves the ball back one yard or so including backwards particularly when the referee is pacing out ten yards.
I remember being at a Barcelona game and a free kick was awarded close to the penalty area. Ronaldinho was playing for Barca at the time. As soon as the referee started pacing 10 yards Ronaldinho moved the ball back a yard or so which then gave him 11+ yards to the wall plus it allowed him the advantage of getting the ball to dip closer to the goal from 22+ yards rather than say 21. His free kick thundered off the bottom of the crossbar. I remarked at the time how he had used the reset of ball position illegally for his advantage. He knew the limits of his shot making which needed the extra yard or so to clear the wall and then dip sufficiently to be on target. At that level too close to goal is not advantageous whereas at lower levels players are always trying to gain yards in every location not go the other way. Rarely if ever do I have to tell a free kicker taker to come forward!!
So to answer your point once spotted the ball should not be moved in any direction including backwards.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Brian,

The location of the restart is for the referee to decide, not the team taking the kick. Although the referee might allow a little more leeway when the free kick location is a long way from the opponent's goal (on the basis of it being a trifling/dubious matter in those circumstances) it is much more important when the free kick is 'within strikng distance' that it be taken from the correct location.

Once the referee has decided on the location, the ball should not be moved and as Ref Dawson says, that is one the main reasons that the use of 'vanishing spray' has been authorised in various leagues and competitions.

Since the answer to your first part of your question is no, the second part becomes moot.