Question Number: 33796

High School 12/7/2019

RE: Rec High School

Tim Haddad of Lancaster, CA USA asks...

If a Goalkeeper in their own PA spouts foul language at an opponent while the ball is at the half-way line, and you decide you need to stop play, then where does the IFK restart for the verbal offense take place? You send off the keeper for insulting language, but is the restart based on where the mouth was that spoke the foul language, where the ear of the opponent was, or where the ball was located.
I believe it is where the GK was located, but I want to be sure.

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tim
Both IFAB and NFHS are the same on this.
The IDFK is taken from the location of the offence in this case where the goalkeeper was located when he committed the offence.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Tim,
For a game played under IFAB laws, the overarching provision is that:

''All free kicks are taken from the place where the offence occurred''

There are a few exceptions to this general rule, such as offences inside the goal area or off the pitch.

So in this case, the indirect free kick would be taken from where the goalkeeper was positioned inside the penalty area, unless they were in the goal area, in which case it would be, ''taken from the nearest point on the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line.''

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Tim,
For the high school rules on free kick restarts, please see Rule 13 Section 2. in the NFHS Rules book.

The rule that is specific to your question is 13-2-2-l on page 67 in the NFHS Rules Book. It states:

Indirect free kicks are awarded and taken from the point of infraction (except as in 13-1-3 and 13-1-4) if the game is stopped for misconduct of a player and no other restart takes precedence (12-8-1, 12-8-2, 12-8-3).

You are, thus, correct - it is taken from the point where the GK was standing when he/she yelled out the foul language.

I hope that you have a successful high school soccer season and get to work the a regional championship game in March.