Question Number: 32177

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/18/2018

RE: Intermediate Under 14

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32173

Really! It would seem to me that if the ball bounced with enough force to reach the edge of the penalty area and then the wind blew it back without touching the floor [I assume ground] from the edge of the penalty area, I would strongly consider abandoning the game.

No one should be forced to play soccer during a hurricane.LOL

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Phil ,
Hmm I tend to agree!
Yet we have played in some rather gusty situations and the backspin on a ball on a windy day seems to gather speed at times!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Phil,
I had considered mentioning that and had the penalty occurred in the early part of the game I'd probably agree. However in the scenario under discussion, the game was already into a penalty shootout so in normal circumstances that would mean that the game had been ongoing for something over two hours. I would suggest that it would be slightly unusual for a referee to have allowed a match to proceed that far, only to then turn around and abandon the game at more or less the very last moment, during the penalty shootout phase.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I think it was a ref from Wyoming who posted on a soccer forum that if they waited for the wind to go down, they'd never play any games.

Still, wind strong enough to blow a ball 18 yards would be quite extreme. Were it not the end of the game (kicks from the mark) it might be best to come back another day.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Once we get to KFTPM referees are going to do all they can to finish the game out. If the game was played in high winds I expect that KFTPM will proceed unless it becomes so difficult that say the ball cannot be placed. We have seen goal kicks being blown back into the goalmouth after leaving the penalty area. Making an exception for a PK in similar conditions would be difficult IMO. A switched on GK can easily deal with it
I simply looked at the situation as the ball being helped back into the goal from a rebound.