Question Number: 34539

Law 15 - The Throw In 3/26/2022

RE: Competitive

George of Panorama, South Australia Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 34534

Thanks for your responses. To put everyone's mind at ease the player was instantly red carded and sent from the field. The AR was fine but unable to continue with the match. The tolerance threshold for where the throw in should be taken was merely the topic of conversation amongst referees following the instant. Thanks once again. G

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi George
Thanks for the update. I'm glad the assistant referee suffered no ill effects other than not being able to continue at the time and the distress of this happening in a game.

As to the TI restart location all referee have to enforce the law in that the throw is taken from the location where the ball left the field of play. Discretion is given to referees as to how strictly they enforce the distance from that point or for that matter deciding the actual location in the first place.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI George,
thanks for that reaffirming justice was indeed metted out.
My colleague gives great example of a simple principle of the SPIRIT of the law which was a restart designed to get the ball back into play was taken with no harm to the reason for the Written letter of law which is why this could not have occurred should the 25 yd direction had been reveresed. We should NOT interfere unless there is a REAL REASON to do so.
Cheers