Question Number: 18594

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/23/2008

Karl Arps of New Holstein, WI USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 18538

Regarding the player shouting, "Hey coach,...", I believe it is likely that the intelligent referee would deem the act of using voice to distract as unsporting behavior, similar to "Leave it." Because the decision to issue the misconduct took place before the kick, the goal would not count, Player A would receive a yellow card for USB, and the restart would be that same IFK.

Remember feinting and faking with the body are acceptable methods to mislead an opponent. False statements and shouts are not. Do you not agree?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It could be viewed that way. If it was unsporting, then the unsporting behavior did indeed take place before the restart, thus no restart has yet been taken. If the referee does not feel it was unsporting behavior, but a request for a tactical instruction from the coach, then the actions by Player A were not putting the ball into play. Player B's touch was the first touch, and if there is no other before the ball goes in the net, there is no goal. The referee will keep his arm in the air indicating the indirect nature of the kick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

There is that thought but if the arm remains up the goal does not count and the goal kick awarded to the opposition. It is quite possible dissent by the team who thought they pulled a sneaky one is liable to still get them cautioned? More interesting is IF the defenders rush in anyway before the second player (takes the kick) do you caution for failure to respect distance and if the team taking the kick complains? Do you caution them now for their USB and retake or allow play to proceed? Defenders in law must refrain from encroaching the ten and CAN NOT harass a FREE KICK if they do they are cautioned for such actions but they have a right to expect to know when the ball is put into play. The ball is often rolled around with the foot and repositioned at the taking of a free kick so a referee must discern the restart from the intent of what a player says or does as honorable? When a referee intervenes at the request of the kicking team and sets walls while defenders have no rights at the taking of the free kick they are granted a signal of a restart to avoid unnecessary confusion. The ball is kicked and moved and accepted by the referee as so!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Players shout to their coaches all the time so I don't see any misconduct here.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Actually the intelligent referee is going to stand there with his arm in the air until the ball touches another player after it is kicked and moved. Doing anything else is just adding fuel to the fire.

Regards,