Question Number: 16958

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/28/2007

RE: Rec Adult

Gary Taylor of Long Beach, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16923

Of course, I know that the dissent was wrong. I was obviously out of my game and all that. The question was about the call. I told you in the question that I did not handle the ball outside the area. He called me for "kicking the ball again after released" Before you ask, no it was not a Goal kick, I dropped it from my hands inside the area to outside the area, where I kicked it downfield. I am very rarely a complainer nor am I a 3rd ref. (our league uses a 2 man system) This was not a subjective call with 2 men coming at the ball and colliding. This was just me doing something I have done since I was a teen and having a goal scored against me from a bad call. I appreciate the lectures on my response, and the answer to my question - we were both wrong. Him on the call and me on my response.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The great difficulty in answering your question is we were not there to see where you released the ball. We can't offer the referee was right of wrong with regard to something we didn't see. If the ball was not handled deliberately outside your penalty area of course there is no foul play. However, foul play is a relative thing and it hinges on what your referee[s] come up with what is correct or incorrect that day.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

As you learned, the referee is the one to decide whether or not any event happened. And the one not to argue with when you disagree.

But refs can't invent fouls for things that aren't illegal. "Kicking the ball again after released" sounds like a bush-league call made by a poorly trained or inexperienced ref. It is not something in the Laws of the Game. But then, they're running a dual system which is expressly prohibited in USSF-affiliated games, so I'm not sure where the referees get their training. If they pick it up as they go, you can expect them to make up things to cover what they haven't encountered before. Get your league affiliated with USSF and you will get certified referees.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Sounds like the referee may have confused the offense of a goalkeeper using his hands to pick up a ball he has just released from his hands with the non-offense of a goalkeeper playing a ball with his feet after releasing it from his hands. Not a common mistake, thank goodness, but definitely a mistake. In fact, that is the first time I've ever heard of it! What disturbs me most is the concept of your league using referees in a dual system. If they are USSF certified referees, they risk losing their certification over doing a dual system. That is allowed in American high school and in American college soccer, but not anywhere else where soccer is played.