Question Number: 16417

League Specific 8/24/2007

RE: competitive (three teams) Adult

Doug of Montreal, Quebec Canada asks...

I have two or three questions. Sorry.

First one: Indoor soccer. We were down a player because we were short one from the beginning. We lost a second to a red card.

We were up by a goal with 5 minutes left. So when we were doing goal kicks we were firing the ball out of play as far as we could.

Without warning the ref gave the player who kicked the ball a yellow card (delay of game ??) It was his second yellow... we had to forfeit becuase we did not have enough players to field an indoor team.

Is there a rule that states a player can not delay a game by kicking a ball out of bounds ?

Second question: Goalie interference. On corner kicks I often have a player marking me (I am a goalie). This player interferes with me trying to get in position for the kick. During indoor soccer free kicks they are often stepping on my toes trying to screen me or not allow me to move for a ball when kicked.

When does this become interference? How much leeway is given for a goalie to move the player or brush by a player in my box to make a save ?

Third Question: Hand Balls. This year more then ever the hand ball rule has made me frustrated. The accidental contact that refs have allowed has become epidemic. One incident had a defensemen clear a ball from our goal line. Hitting an opponents hand, dropping to the opponents feet and allowing him an easy tap in. Ref said it was unintentional !! He allowed the goal. I received a yellow in my complaints to him and his call. Handball in the box which allowed a total advantage.

Anyway those are my questions.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

1) Not giving a warning could perhaps be criticized - it is a prudent thing to do, but the referee was well within his authority to caution your team for delaying the restart of the game without warning, which you freely admit you were doing. That is a rather unsporting thing to do and it is against the Laws of the Game. 2) Players are not allowed to interfere with one another on corner kicks. A watchful referee will be looking for attacking players who are unfairly crowding a goalkeeper and making no play for the ball themselves. That should draw a whistle and a free kick. And, if the attacker is making a play for the ball and is trying to occupy space not already occupied, that's not a problem even if it does get in your way. If on the other hand, the attacker is trying to occupy space already occupied by the goalkeeper, that's a problem. Whistle and restart for your team. 3) There are no "hand balls" per se and an accidental contact of the ball with the hand should NEVER be whistled because it is not an offense. The offense of handling is punished ONLY when the offense is done deliberately, or as they say, the hand played the ball, not the ball played the hand. So, in the instance you cite, where the ball is kicked into the hand - there is no fault on the part of the player whose hand it touched since he didn't deliberately touch it - even if he did then get to tap the ball in. Perhaps you could have saved yourself a caution/yellow card if you studied up a bit on the Laws of the Game? Hope my answers help you sort things out.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Doug, you deserved your caution and yellow card. Your stating that the allowance of "accidental" handballs has become epidemic shows you do NOT understand what Deliberately Handling The Ball means. I WISH ALL "accidental" handballs were allowed. Why? Because by definition if it's accidental it CANNOT be deliberate. When the ball glances off the hand and the player does not redirect the ball, it doesn't matter where it lands. If at his feet then so be it. Advantage in the way you mean it is NOT a consideration. The referee did you the courtesy of explaining why you were wrong. You should have kept your mouth shut. You do not understand the Laws. The referee obviously does. There are many of us that will actually send you off for nonsensical arguing if we believe your language is becoming insulting. Read the Laws of the Game and learn them. It may keep you from receiving a red card with send off next time you decide to argue a point. Keep in mind also, that you are not to argue ANYTHING with the referee.