Question Number: 15880

Law 13 - Free Kicks 6/25/2007

RE: Rec Adult

James of Cambridge, Ontario Canada asks...

Yesterday I was playing a league game and my team had an instance where we had a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. The opposing team formed a wall, to which I joined the in the middle to break up their formation. I didn't push or shove my way in, I merely placed myself within a gap in their formation. I'm a big, tall and sturdy guy, so when I set my feet I'm a hard guy to move. Once I did this there was much jostling and movement, in an effort to displace me from their wall. I didn't push or shove, I just held my ground. At this point the referee came over and informed me that I wasn't allowed to be in the wall. I could be in front of the wall, behind the wall or at the end of the wall, but not in the wall. This to me made no sense, as as far as I know I am entitled to any spot on the field, as long as I'm not fouling another player. My goal for the play was simply to disrupt and distract the opposing players into paying more attention to me then other players on my team. Was the referee right to ask me to move out of the wall?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Hmm, sounds like one of those stupid referee tricks. If you take up your position properly - as you said, without pushing your way in - then you are entitled to be there. It could make for an interesting restart of play, but that's the referee's job to manage.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Players are entitled to the ground on which they stand, so long as they get there in a manner that doesn't infringe the Laws. You said you didn't occupy the space by force. Welcome to that spot!

The referee didn't tell you not to push nor did he caution and show you the yellow card for any misconduct, he just removed you from the space. So be it. He can order you to do anything he wants, within the Law or not AND you have to obey because he has a whistle in his mouth and a pocket full of cards.

You weren't wrong right up to the time he said not today. At that point that tactic is no longer permitted for any player. I, as a player on that match, wouldn't like to test him because he has already made something up -- It is not a far stretch he'll make something up again and it might be me digging my nose with the wrong finger and that is a sending-off offence. Go with the program and ask later, just like you did on this one, well done James.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

You can stand where you want. This referee made a mistake.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi James,
I want to elaborate a bit here this idea that you can stand in a defender's wall properly!
In reality you can not if the smart defenders will not permit it. You can stand and my defender will stand just behind you and the wall will be a bit curved and you can not move into the wall otherwise you are guilty of a pushing foul. It is easier to get to the end of the wall then in the middle simply because if you STAND on a spot the wall simply moves to another spot. Then when you try to back up or move forward you are pushing. You start flexing arms and such either you or the opponents could wind up on the crap list with cautions. You can stand and you can try to insert but truthfully you will not be able to break the wall against a player standing directly behind you. It is sort of like taking a stand in front of the keeper on a corner kick you can do so but if you start to follow him around as he moves you could be cautioned and if you impede a player you are not within playing distance! You see while a referee might not allow the defender to push you forward you can not back into him either.

I find standing in front of the ball as an attacker at about 2 0r 3 yards creates far more chaos in the wall 7 yards behind you because they are in fact blocked from whatever set play you might be up to
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

This sounds like a bit of "creative reffing" to me. I'm certainly not aware of any law that prohibits you from taking up the position you described. I would be interested in this ref's explanation. All the best,