Question Number: 15330

Law 13 - Free Kicks 4/30/2007

RE: Select Under 19

George of Charlotte Area, NC USA asks...

Recently, in a high intensity U18 boys match, one team elected for a quick restart after receiving a freekick. The attacker put the ball down, kicked it, and the defender that was standing next to him stuck his foot out and blocked it. (They were less than 1 yard apart) The referee didn't say/do anything when that happened, play went on normally. (Well, except for the attacker's coach and captain being a little upset that the defender wasn't cautioned).

This entire scenario has always been touchy for me, for the following reasons:

1) The LoTG stipulate that the defenders shall retire ten yards during the taking of the free kick.

2) The team that elects to take a quick restart shouldn't be penalized by a defender stopping the free kick (Law 18, as well as found in the Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game)

3) As explained to me by the higher level referee that was the center in this match (Grade 06 , since the team decided to take a quick restart, they 'lose' their right to 10 yards, and the fact that he kicked it with a defender standing next to him was his 'own fault'.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this scenario as a Referee. Should anything have been done? What would you do in this instance?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The referee should have allowed a rekick and cautioned the defender for failing to respect requiered distance. 1. Players must retire the 10 yds right away and if not, they can be cautioned. 2. If the team takes the quick kick and the defenders rush towards ball as in this case, redo the kick and caution. If the defenders are still retreating and did not make an effort to block ball. ... play on.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the quick kick was mistakenly shot directly at the close-in opponent, too bad when it hits him. The kicker shouldn't have tried a quick kick in that instance.

But you said the player within 10 yards stuck out his foot to intercept the kick. He certainly has interfered with the opponent's free kick, and should be cautioned for failure to respect the 10-yard distance. The free kick would be retaken. While the kicker didn't give him enough time to retreat the full 10 yards, the defender took advantage of his closeness to the ball with a deliberate action to play it.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

A referee, grade 6, in US Soccer said that a team awarded a free kick and taking that free kick when opponents are within the required distance and one of them makes a play for the ball forfeits their free kick. So sorry. His attention should be drawn to Advice to referees 13.4 Enforcing the Required Distance.

This says in part: An attacking team which chooses to take a free kick with an opponent closer than the minimum distance may not thereafter claim infringement if the distance requirement, even if the ball is kicked to the infringing opponent, who thereby is able to control the ball without moving toward it.

Surely the defender in sticking out his foot has move toward the ball! In this case the referee intervenes by stopping the supposed restart, cautioning and showing the yellow card to the defender for failing to respect the required distance [USB in the USA] and allowing the restart of play after all opponents have retired the proper distance. This is basic stuff and for a Grade 6 referee to say anything else is unforgivable.

Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 15423