Question Number: 17393

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/19/2007

RE: competitive Adult

Mark of Saint Paul, USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17340

I encountered this trick play in one of the first games where I was an AR. One player did the short kick then called to another player to "take the kick." The other player dribble toward the goal (but did not score). However, something happened in this instance that, in retrospect, I thought could have (should have) caused the center to caution the player who dribbled in. This second player, after being told to take the kick, went off the field of play. The player lined up off the field just like a regular corner kicker would. (The player also may have run off the field of play even more in order to get over to the corner--but I was not paying attention well enough to remember for sure on that). So, in this case, could the center decide to caution for leaving the field of play solely with the intent to deceive? If you made that call, I assume that the restart would be an indirect kick for defense since the second player went off the field after the tiny but actual corner kick. Is this correct?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Hmm, that is an interesting take on the trick corner question. Players are allowed to leave the field temporarily in order to be able to play the ball. But they wouldn't go several yards off the corner if all they were going to do is dribble the ball toward the goal.

I think I, as referee, would have been "fooled" by this trick. Yes, it looked like maybe A did put the ball into play, but then she told B to take it and B backed up as if she really was going to take the corner. When B begins dribbling away, it must be a second-touch violation. Indirect kick outbound for the opponents, and no need to caution. If they argue, "But what about our trick play?" I'll remind them about when it is or isn't necessary to leave the field, and the possible consequences.

I saw a strange variety of corner kick yesterday. B lines up directly in front of A, with legs spread, both facing the same direction. A kicks the ball underneath B, and then B dribbles away. Now why wouldn't A and B simply stand side-by-side, so that B can see when A kicks, instead of waiting for the ball to appear underneath her?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

FIFA expects the players to remain on the field but realizes that some circumstances are not going to allow it. There is even cautionable misconduct that deals with this action if it is unfair or deceitful on the part of the players. However, when it is part of normal play as in through momentum (can not stop) or avoidance (oops I do not want to run you down) or in this case TACTICAL (I need to get around you to play that ball or participate in play).

A player who shields the ball into a corner to use up time or sheppard the ball going into touch cannot argue that an opponent who runs outside a boundry line to play a ball rather than foul or run over the opponent has committed an unfair act. The BIG difference here though is in this stoppage it is expected a player will be off the field to take the corner and in this case it would likely be expected the player who left to take the corner a second time is there to do just that.
The problem is how can we realistically stop encroachment if every restart has uncertainty when the ball is kicked? The referee FIRST must recognize the first player has actually put the ball in play. If the trick is ?you take it!? what if the defender rushes in and does, leaving the off field attacker screaming how unfair that was? Do we caution him for USB and dissent when now as referee we must decide if it was a trick that backfired? The team cannot ask me if I will accept this as it is not allowed for a neutral official to be so involved in tactical trickery at one team's expence. I likely will not listen and mention such action could be cautionable. However, if they do tell me it is likely I remind the other team that it is always my decision if a ball is in play on any kicking restart when it is kicked and moves.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Players are allowed to leave the field of play if they are participating in the normal course of play or to indicate to the referee that they are uninvolved in a pay in which they are in an offside position. In this case, you could have probably cautioned this player for leaving field of play w/o referee permission. I tend to agree with Mr. Voshol's answer in that I probably would myself have called the second touching violation.