Question Number: 35349

Law 13 - Free Kicks 2/10/2024

RE: Amateur Adult

David Barclay of Manchester, Select United Kingdom asks...

Free kick awarded.
The Ref blows for the kick to be taken.
The player standing over the ball reaches down and moves the ball slightly forward with his hands and then takes the kick.
Isn't that technically handball?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi David,
interesting observation.

in my opinion, if this was an open field free kick restart it is doubtful any intervention is required but might require a toot toot toot to say LEAVE it where it was! Particularly if inside the PA on an INDFK or in good scoring position outside the PA . A little closer, a little left, a little right and the ball bends around the wall

The free kick is NOT considered as taken until the stationary ball is KICKED first and discerningly seen to be moved from one point to another, nudges or step on rarely do it . .

While a whistle COULD precede the restart, it is not a requirement and the handling issue could be an simple oversight by the player meaning no harm just an idiosyncrasy to steady the nerves. TO achieve a referee response to such an action whether a blade of grass restart was what the referee was demanding it would still be a reach to possibly considering dissent or delay of restart. What are you doing? Just get on with it!

If the referee indicates the exact spot the free kick is to be taken from, then sets a wall accordingly, you might have noted the use of foam to mark the ball and then the wall location.

To arbitrarily change the ball location could create a similar issue as if the defence try to fudge the wall location by constantly creeping forward, BOTH entities are refusing to follow the referees instructions.

A whistled restart usually indicates a ceremonial free kick although I have seen both goal and corner kicks whistled in. Usually due to player actions prior that need sorting out!

Free kicks which can be taken quickly, often have a degree of was that ball perfectly stationary or in a reasonable correct restart location?

As to how important it is to establish, leave it alone, may well demand on the timing, location and general state of the match. You can not tee the ball up per say but the reality would be how important is this issue? For example if this was a PK then NO, the referee will not likely permit the ball to be moved or adjusted off the spot as it MUST be there BEFORE he blows for the PK to begin Any moving needed to occur as the attacker was placing the ball earlier. Failure to not following referee instructions can result in cautions for delay of the restart or USB for dissent.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi David

At a FK the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves - not when the referee blows the whistle. The whistle is simply the signal that the kick is allowed to be taken - and isn't required for all kicks either.

Handball, like any foul, requires the ball to be in play for it to be considered a foul. Therefore, as the ball is not in play when the attacker moves it with their hands, there is no offence.

The referee could consider it delaying the restart of play and it could earn a yellow card, and/or the ref could order the kicker to reposition the ball back to where it was.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
Thanks for the question

First point is that it cannot be deliberate handling as the ball is not in play. The whistle is only a signal to put the ball in play.

Second point is that the referee could deem the free kick to be taken from the wrong location or delaying the restart. These if present would have happened before the restart so if the referee intervenes to deal with those it is still the same free kick.

Personally I would only intervene if the ball movement was significant not a slight repositioning. On poor surfaces we see players teeing the ball up such at kick outs and it is not unusual if the ball moves for it to be repositioned. Same would happen at a free kick where the ball rolls a little into a divot. I have also seen this used as some form of feinting to distract players or a signal as to what is going to happen with the kick.

The recent Wolves free kick repositioning of the ball to the side of the referee*s foam marking caused somewhat of a stir with even an appeal to the Referees body PGMOL about why VAR did not intervene.
The fact was that the referee was happy with the final placement of the ball as he was stood beside the kick as he blew the whistle. I felt that if Forest players felt that there was misplacement shenanigans when it happened that it should have been brought to the referees attention. As play had restarted there was no going back in my opinion.