Question Number: 26479

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 6/20/2012

RE: rec Adult

alex of richmond hill, ontario canada asks...

According to the book, the ar signals a foul by raising the flag straight up and then gives the flag a small forward and backward motion before pointing the flag to the direction of the free kick. Just heard from somebody who went through an referee upgrade clinic that says the back and forth flag motion is no longer needed due to a change in the laws. Is this correct?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alex
I am not aware of this and there has been no changes in the Law with respect to Law 12 offences. The flag signal is still the same in the guidelines although it does vary slightly from country to country. In some countries the ARs do not flutter the flag but simply go with the flag up followed by the direction of the free kick immediately.
The advice I would give is to follow the custom and practise in an area. If most ARs are doing the fluttering flag technique as per the FIFA guidelines then that is what should be done.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If there has been a change in the procedures, it has not been disseminated widely, if at all. I would continue with how you were trained unless and until you are told otherwise by someone or some organization with the paper in hand to prove it is now different.

It's been my experience that folks at clinics, any type, often miss part of the lesson, and take away what they thought they heard. You would do well to check this out with your local instruction group, since they should have this information for you.