Question Number: 16383

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/20/2007

RE: over 45 competitive Adult

gord joyce of kelowna, b.c. canada asks...

Are all fouls in the 18 yard box a penalty shot? Or, are there times when an indirect free kick can be given in the box?

Also. A free kick is given. The attacking player asks for 10 yards to be given. The Ref asks the defending player to move back. the player only moves two steps,the attacking player kicks the ball and the defending player turns his back and steps into the ball. The ball strikes the defender. My question, should a yellow card be given to the defender? he did not obey the ref's command and interfered with the kick inside 10 yards.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

No, all offenses in the penalty area are not punished with penalty kicks. An example of some that aren't are all the offenses goalkeepers commit - picking up a throw-in by their own team, picking up a ball deliberately kicked to them by a teammate, etc. These are actions punishable by indirect free kicks, but there are other offenses like playing in a dangerous manner, impeding, or preventing the GK from releasing the ball which are also punished with an IDFK and which may occur in the penalty area. The second part of your question, regarding the defenders moving back the required 10 yards on a free kick, is an on-going sore point among referees. First of all, the attacking team doesn't have to ASK for the 10 - the defense is required to give it without being asked, told or otherwise coerced - but because too many referees consider this to be a trifling issue, it is routinely ignored, to the detriment of the game. Just last evening, a premiership game on the TV showed a referee allowing a defense to set a wall only 5 yards from the kicker and they were at the top of the penalty area. Predictably, the kick went directly into the wall. But I digress - YES, a caution/yellow card must be given to a defensive player who steps into the kick and interferes with the restart from within 10 yards. A memo from USSF to all US referees was just issued on this very thing. While that is not binding on referees the world over, it does usually reflect the current thinking or direction being taken by FIFA.