Question Number: 16744

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/17/2007

RE: Select Under 10

Mike Owens of Grand Rapids, MI USA asks...

In a U9 game this weekend: Goalkeeper made a save and went to punt the ball. He carried the ball over the penalty area line. Referee whistled and awarded an indirect free kick for the attacker just outside the top of the area.

As far as I can tell, this either should have been a trifling infraction (esp. at U9 level) with the referee telling the keeper to watch his lines; or a direct free kick for the keeper deliberately handling the ball outside the area. When the coach questioned the call, the referee said it was an INDFK as in the law. The only thing I can think of is that ITOOTR the keeper released the ball then picked it up again before any other player touched it, but from my vantage point as a spectator it didn't appear that the keeper ever released the ball until the attempted punt.

Am I missing something in the Laws as to why this should have been an INDFK?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

NO you are missing nothing! in fact please pick up your referee badge at the nearest referee clinic! You are well versued in what was required in law the dfk from just outside the PA or trivial as demanded by the actual game! The indfk was 100% incorrect assuming this league has no weird indfk only perversion! As an intelligent knowledgeable parent you are most welcome to join our ranks as referee. Then you could converse with the referee in your kids game and set him straight as a colleague mentor rather than him think of you as a disgruntled know it all parent! Well done! Cheers!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It is possible that your league has instituted a rule so all free kicks at U9/U10 are indirect. However, if that was the case, the referee should have noted it as a local rule, not inferring it was part of the Laws of the Game.

There are 4 Indirect Free Kick fouls in Law 12 that can only be committed by the goalkeeper. Perhaps the referee somewhat logically extended this to the goalkeeper handling the ball outside the penalty area. Please report this referee to the powers that be so he can be better informed next time.

I agree with Ref Dawson, you sound like an excellent referee candidate. Please see http://msysareferee.net/ and consider taking one of the classes which will be scheduled this coming winter.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Mike! Well, it happens occassionally that a soccer parent knows the Law better than the referee and this is one of those times. I agree, what could be more trifling than this offence? It bothers me to no end that we keep getting questions about this. Any referee should know better. Keeper handles the ball outside his own penalty area and if it's not trifling, it hAS to be a direct free kick, never indirect.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

If you decide that a foul needs to be called then in this case it MUST be a direct free kick.