Question Number: 16596

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/8/2007

RE: rec Under 11

Todd Ross of middlefield, oh U.S.A. asks...

Our team was awarded a IFK outside the penalty area for a trip. Our striker took the kick which was deflected by a defender with his hands. The ball went into the goal. The referee first tried to take the goal back and award another free kick for the "hand ball". I argued that the IFK touched another player and crossed into the goal, the goal should stand. He changed his ruling and allowed the goal. Did I make the right call?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Let's see:

A team official may convey tactical instructions to the players during the match. [Law 3, IFABD 2]

The referee allows play to continue when the team against which an offence is committed will benefit from such an advantage. [Law 5]

The referee takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may, at his discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds. [Law 5]

The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. [Law 5]

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball crosses the whole of the goal line under the crossbar and between the goal posts provided the Laws of the Game have not been infringed by the team scoring the goal. [Law 10]

A trip or the attempt to trip is one of the six direct free kick offences that is either careless, reckless or uses excessive force to be foul play. [Law 12]

Deliberately handling the ball is a direct free kick offence [except for the goalkeeper within her own penalty area]. [Law 12]

The referee awarded an indirect free kick for tripping, this is impossible under the Laws of the Game.

The referee refused a goal because he thought it better to give a free kick than a goal. This is impossible when advantage is considered.

The coach argued with a referee's decision regarding facts connected with play. This is impossible because those decisions are final and the referee is not "the players".

And you ask if the right call was made. Answer: No! Not by anyone!

The only thing you are permitted to do is write everything down and submit it, in the form of a protest, to the league. This is because in saying the referee should allow the goal after an indirect free kick is touched by another player is, in fact, true.

Once the league learns a referee is ignorant of the Law action may be taken and learning may happen. When you argue your point on the field you degrade the referee's authourity and teach your players to not respect an authourity figure [think boss, judge, police, mother, father, priest, and on and on]. When there is an argument on the field no one learns and preconceived notions are not corrected. Is this what you want on your next match?

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The good referee will apply advantage and allow the goal. Your referee sounds inexperienced for not applying this immediatly.