Question Number: 15394

Law 17 - Corner Kick 5/5/2007

RE: Rec Under 15

Brian of Baltimore, MD Baltimore asks...

If before a corner kick by team A, a player from team B pushes a player from Team A pretty hard "jocking for position" in the penalty area? What is the correct call? What is the restart?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Technically the referee cannot call a foul since the ball is not in play. Instead the referee can intervene by issuing cards or verbally warning players. Some referees will wait tell ball is kicked and then call a foul.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

There are many things the referee may do here. Usually he'll hold the taking of the kick and attempt to persuade the players from treating the kick like a Junior Prom. Pretty hard may qualify as misconduct and earn the pusher a caution and yellow card for his effort. If the referee wishes players to keep this kind touchy-feely crap to a minimum he'll have to take firm action. Me? I tend to let the first corner progress them blow hard and long whilst glaring at a defender and moving toward the penalty mark. Once I feel the fear of God has been properly affixed I point out and award a free kick to the defense. The attacker pushing is told that I'm not buying into his pushing and if he wants any corners in future he'll tell his mates to knock it off.

Works for me...

Regards,