Question Number: 16374

Law 13 - Free Kicks 8/20/2007

RE: Rec Adult

ernie cohen of wyncote, pa usa asks...

What stops a team with a free kick from stalling the rest of the game by surrounding the ball with players?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Why would anyone or any team want to do something so ugly to the beautiful game? That's a better question. Sigh. A partial answer to the question you pose would be the referee is what stops such behavior. We have many tools with which to do so, some harsher than others. First, we have the watch, and if a team is wasting time, we just add however much time was lost due to time wasting back on to the end of the half. I usually make that announcement to the captains of both teams, with the aim of cutting the behavior short. My initial attempts to persuade the team such behavior is unacceptable will be in the form of strong verbal language, in essence, cease and desist this dreadful behavior. However, if they are dense or hard of hearing, I can use further persuasion in the form of cautions for delaying the restart of the game, or for unsporting behavior. If anyone on that team already has a card, they will no longer be a part of the stalling party, and if I have to give out very many before the party is over, we may not have enough players to continue the game, so it will be abandoned and a full report given to the league authorities. In such circumstances, the league may require the entire game to be replayed, or may simply award the win to the side that was not displaying such poor sportsmanship. I've never had a team make it that far without coming to their senses, but there is always a first time.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If a team taking a kick delays, the ref can caution for that delay. Continue doing so, and as my colleague says, cautions become second caution send-offs and soon we won't have enough players to continue.

If the team defending against the kick gathers around the ball, they are cautioned for not respecting the 10-yard distance on a free kick, and upon repetition they too will be subject to reduced numbers.

In either of those two situations (with the ball not in play), the time-wasting can be addressed by the referee adding on time to the game. If the ref indicates that she is doing so, the team may have a sudden revelation that their "technique" isn't working, and they might abandon it before the referee has to abandon the game for lack of numbers.

If the ball is in play, what stops all the team from gathering round it to keep their opponents away? Is that what you are asking? The answer is that the surround-the-ball tactic is not a part of the game of football/soccer. It is making a mockery of the game, bringing the game into disrepute. It could be misconduct, but we probably don't have to resort to that. First the referee should use some direct words to get the players to start playing. "Hey guys, knock it off. Let's play some soccer." If that doesn't work, the ref can stop play to chew them out. Because this is not a stoppage for a foul or misconduct, the restart would be a dropped ball. Finally, if the team insists they can surround the ball and stall, the referee can resort to cautioning the players for unsporting behavior.

My colleagues have discussed this question at length behind the scenes. The previous paragraph is the result of that collaboration. Thank you for an interesting question that has made us think. Sometimes the questions that seemingly should be so easy to answer involve a lot of contemplation.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Ernie, what stops a team from doing this? Their integrity!

If they have no integrity the referee is going to put an end to it very quickly.

Regards,