Question Number: 32811

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/16/2018

RE: Adult Co-Ed Rec Adult

Adrian of Seattle, WA USA asks...

During a corner kick, but before the ball is put into play, an attacker (not the kicker) leaves the field of play along the goal line and on the ball side of the field, and then runs around the goal, and returns to the field near the the far post. He establishes a position on the field before the ball is put into play. Play is restarted and nothing comes of it.

He was not hurt, nor he was trying to start a substitution that died on the vine. The kind interpretation would be that he didn't want to run through all the congestion in front of goal. The not so kind interpretation would be an act of deceit.

I know it's rec with unlimited subs, and no AR's and it's casual, but wondering if that maneuver would elicit a caution during a pro match for leaving and returning without permission.

Thoughts?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Adrian
Context and reason is everything here.
As you say if it was done to avoid a crowded area then no action is required other than perhaps not allowing the corner kick to be taken and having a word with the player to desist from such action. The delayed restart allows a reset of defending positions as well.
Many times we do not know the thinking of players. Is it a genuine action or done for tactical reasons such as making it difficult for his marker to pick him up?
It is unlikely to happen very often in a Pro game and also unlikely to draw a card when it does. More likely to stop the restart and have a word.
When it is done for clear unsporting reasons then by all means it is a caution and an IDFK
This should not have been allowed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg88lhfeZno
The referee should not have allowed the kick to be taken on the first player to exit and spoken to the players.
If the kick is taken with the ball in play then I would have cautioned the Red scorer 18 and restarted with an IDFK
Now to be fair, the goal I believe was eventually overturned and all the four players were cautioned.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Adrian,
I actually like your thoughts as you did exactly the what was necessary to arrive at a decision. You considered what was the purpose of that action and was it necessary to do anything about it?
I agree with my friend & colleague Ref McHugh context and reason is what is required! Technically there is no real reason to exit but given how much push, shove, grab and spin about occurs I can not fault a player for trying to find some green grass of his own. That said when players do the unusual there is no certainty an individual referee will decide that action does not pass the sniff test of something's not right. So a word of warning most likely, a card initially less likely, but not impossible.
Cheers