Question Number: 31245

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/9/2017

RE: Under 16

Paul of England, UK asks...

This question is a follow up to question 31235

Thank you for your help in this. My son was told my his goalkeeping coach that if a player keeps moving to block him from taking the kick he should wait for the Ref to ask the player to move. This time the Ref told him to get on with the kick. This is when he said to the Ref that the player was in his way. The Ref then gave the Indirect Free Kick against him. After the game his Football Manager told him the Ref was correct saying. 'The player was outside of the box so wasn't interfering with releasing the ball'.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Paul
Here are the videos I mentioned
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&t=1m27s&v=eAgwBLjf3Ao
In this one the referee allows the goal.
Here is another one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uO9A6s8_vI&feature=youtu.be
Referee Lee Mason felt that the actions were deliberate to prevent the release of the ball by the goalkeeper. My take on it is that the attackers have placed himself subtlety in the GK kicking line. Watch their movement. It mirrors the GK. It is not aimless walking about. Both has also pressured the GK on the 6 seconds which then hurries him up on the kick from where he is stood. This is a tried and tested move and it did come off previously for the player in another game with the IDFK not being called.
Here are other example where there were cautions issued
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=30URundTX80&t=1m16s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3de7_wD8UWQ
The referee decided in the circumstances that the best decision was an IDFK only as there was nothing reckless nor tactical.
Note how Joe Hart goes ahead with the punt and as a result Smalling is cautioned for his actions.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Paul,
I think it was mentioned in the previous responses but the argument that, 'The player was outside the box so wasn't interfering with releasing the ball' is manifestly incorrect. In fact most goalkeepers throw the ball up from just inside the penalty area when punting and in many cases, they actually kick the ball after it has crossed the line and is already outside the penalty area (which can lead to other problems but that is by the by).

Since the keeper can be outside the area while still in the process of releasing the ball, then clearly a player who is outside the area can be guilty of preventing the release from there as well.

I have to say I have every sympathy with your son. I actually suffered the indignity of an indirect free kick being awarded against me for almost exactly the same thing when playing as a goalkeeper many, many years ago. The player moved several times to block my kick so I stopped for a few seconds and looked up at the referee without actually saying anything, expecting him to take action. He did, and awarded an IFK against me! I'm still not convinced the referee was correct to penalise me on that occasion, especially since the 6-second clause had not yet come into effect back then.

Having said all that, ref McHugh is probably right in saying that stopping to appeal to the referee may not be the most effective course of action in this situation.