Question Number: 31834

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/27/2017

RE: REC Adult

BRIAN flynn of oreland, PA United States asks...

I received a yellow card for obstructing a Quick the direct kick. A foul was called and I was standing several feet from the ball when the Offensive player made a Quick kick. I stuck by foot out to block the kick.

The referee said i needed to be 10 yards back.

I thought this was either / or situation. The offensive player can quick kick and if i'm in the way its his fault OR he can ask for 10 yards and wait for the whistle.

I'm confused why i got carded.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
When a free kick is awarded all attacking players must retreat 10 yards from the ball. Now if the attacking team takes a quick free kick with players within 10 yards the opponents must not move towards the ball or prevent kick from happening. Should the player do either it is a caution and the kick is retaken.
Now in your case you clearly state that you were only a few feet from the ball and you stuck out your foot to block the kick. That is most certainly a caution.
Now there can be situations where the opponents are a distance from the ball yet still within 10 yards and the quick free kick is poorly executed with the pass intercepted or the ball hits an opponent who does not move towards the ball. In those instances play is allowed to continue.
There is a world of difference between preventing a kick and an interception.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Brian,
Good call by the referee - if only more did this!
Yes, if an attacker takes a quick free kick they've basically accepted the position of the defenders.
BUT, that assumes the defender is still making reasonably efforts to retire 10 yards. As you stated, you were standing still directly in front of the ball, not making a reasonable effort to move back 10 yards. So had the ball been kicked straight into you you're asking for a card.
You say you stuck your foot out to block the ball - if you were a few feet away then that tells me you moved your foot to block before it was kicked. That's a textbook case of stopping the free kick.