Question Number: 17020

Law 15 - Throw In 10/1/2007

RE: Gold level Under 16

Steve Wyllie of Victoria, Canada asks...

When an individual does a throw-in, what constitutes a foot foul?
I understand that both feet have to be on the ground but my question is
1. Can a foot be on the line with none of the foot onto the field of play?
2 Can a foot be on the line and also on the field of play?
I was taught that the line was in play and any contact with the line with your foot was a foul. I recently had a discussion with a ref that said that as long as your foot is on the line, you are OK even if your foot goes 6-8 inches into the field of play. Help!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The part of each foot must be on the line or on the ground off the field where the ball left play. If 1 mm of each foot is on the line and the rest of both feet are on the field then part of each foot is on the line. It is a simple thing. Is it where the ball left the field? Is part of each foot on the line or where the ball left the field? That is all that matters as far as the feet are concerned.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

AT least part of each foot must be on the line or outside the line on the ground in touch. 2. Since the touchline is considered to be part of the field of play, technically the foot if on the touchline is ON the field of play. But the Law tells us that on a throw-in that each foot must at least in part be TOUCHING the touchline so you cannot put your foot onto the field of play that is NOT part of the touchline. It would be infinitely easier if FIFA would just say you have to be completely off the field of play but that's not what the Law says and we all have to abide by it.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Law 15 says part of each foot must be either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line. So as long as some part of the foot is on the line or behind the line, that part of the requirements for a good throw in have been met.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Part of each foot must be on the line or on the ground outside the field. Also, the thrower must be w/i 1 yard of where the ball went out.