Question Number: 17140

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/6/2007

RE: JV & Travel High School

Steve Ulrich of Tuckahoe, NY USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17070

With all due respect to Referee Contarino, I'm having trouble locating in the 2006 ATR the advice concerning a free kick hitting a retreating player. To whom is the caution issued? A recent incident in a game on Friday spawns my question. There was a foul for tripping at midfield. The fouled player took the free kick immediately, striking the player who fouled him squarely in the back as he attempted to retreat! No call was made by the referee for the failure to respect the required distance. If the player who kicked the ball intentionally in the back of the retreating player, could be cautioned for unsporting behavior?

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

The reference was ATR 2007, that one should be available by now.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

In the 2006 ATR, it is located under Law 13 Free Kicks 13.4 and in the new 2007 version in 13.3. It says (2007 version): "An attacking team may exercise its right to take a free kick when the players see an advantage to do so even with an opponent closer than the minimum distance. However, they may not thereafter claim infringement of the distance requirement if the ball is kicked to an infringing opponent who is able to control the ball WITHOUT MOVING TOWARD IT. In this case, because the attacking side has considered the encroachment trivial, the referee must accept what he or she has seen." (caps added where italics are in original) While your situation is slightly different in that the retreating defender did not play the ball, the fact remains if the attacking team feels they may have an advantage from a quick kick, and the defenders have not had enough time to retreat and are retreating, the referee will not caution for failure to retreat unless the defender moves toward the ball to play it from within the 10 yards. As for the kicker striking the retreating defender in the back and whether that is worthy of a caution for unsporting behavior or a send off for violent conduct, that decision would have to be made by the referee on the field based on match conditions that day, those teams, that game.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

2006 13.4 2007 13.3