Question Number: 31074

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/1/2016

RE: Competitive Under 17

Aaron Speca of Virginia Beach, VA United States asks...

This to me looks like a clear example of external interference by a neutral party, as a player who is waiting for the next match reaches her leg into the field of play to stop a ball headed out of bounds. From this angle, it's not even a sure thing to me whether the ball would have gone over the end line or the sideline first - or it might have hit the corner flag square and never left play! So the question - would the proper restart by law have been a drop ball at the point of interference?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlgvyx-iFiM

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
Yes the restart would have been a dropped ball when there is outside interference by an outside agent. The player, not connected with this game, looks like she is just being helpful in retrieving the ball for the TI?
Anyway it looks like the AR believed that the ball had left the field of play as he signals for a defensive throw in? If the ball had NOT gone out of play and if the person who kicked the ball was a substitute then she has clearly interfered with play which is a caution. Under the new laws it is a direct free kick restart from where the ball was when stopped. As already mentioned if it was an outside agent that interfered the restart would be a dropped ball.
Anyone not named on the team list as a player, substitute or team official is an outside agent.
It brings to mind a situation I had as an AR a few seasons ago. A member of the technical staff was moving along the line to take up his position. The ball was clearly destined to leave the FOP and he stopped the ball on the line. My immediate reaction was Oh Oh we have a small problem. Anyway the opponents made nothing off it as they assumed the ball was out of play and the person knew that he had been premature in his action so I just signalled for a regular TI. Under the new Laws it is a DFK whereas in the old laws it was a dropped ball (which may have resulted in the ball being kicked out anyway from the DB).
IFAB has opined that there is a growing problem of substitutes/team officials entering the field to interfere with play or an opponent, e.g. stopping a goal. This is clearly ‘unfair’ and a direct free kick (or penalty kick if in own penalty area) is more appropriate.
As I always say make the *best* decision for the game. In this case the TI is the best decision IMHO as there is nothing unfair in what was done.
It also points to the need to ensure that technical areas are correctly managed and if at all possible to ensure that persons not connected with the game are well away from the FOP, although that is not always easy to achieve.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Aaron,
ah yes, the ole, 'It's a kids' game the what does it matter. I was just trying to help?' lol. Its always a poor idea to have spectators so close to touchlines. I lost count the number of time during tournaments I patrol the touchline requesting the lawn chair army to move back for safety sake. My good colleague Ref McHugh has it about right, the incident at the level of competitive play and its importance will factor into whether we are throw in or free kick or drop ball. I remind my ARs to not put up with those who force there way into the field. Mind you if there is no security forces and we are in a big tournament it can be quite difficult to push back unruly spectators so the touchlines can be observed properly.
Cheers