Question Number: 18631

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/28/2008

RE: Rec

Julie Davis of Dallas, Tx USA asks...

If you whistle to stop play is it necessary to give an audible command (or physical) to resume play? I didn't think it was necessary but there was an unfortunate incident during the FC Dallas exhibition game last Saturday that made me wonder. A DFK was given to Dallas. The Brasilian players were milling about, slowly getting set up but one player wasn't giving the 10 yard minimum distance. A Dallas player argued with him but didn't look to the referee for assistance and he didn't offer any. Another Dallas player took advantage of the confusion, kicked the ball and scored. The referee indicated a goal and several Brasilian players immediately rushed him, knocking him to the ground. They seem to think the referee should have given a signal prior to the ball being kicked. Fortunately the referee wasn't hurt.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The Brasilian players should be banned from soccer for life. Such behavior should not be tolerated and I hope they are punished. This would be true even if the referee had made a mistake, which he did not. Once the referee indicates there is to be a free kick, the kicking team is free to take it. The Brasilian player that was refusing to retreat the REQUIRED 10 yards was disobeying Law 13. The referee saw no reason to intercede and was not asked to do so. the Dallas player was smart and took the kick as is his right and scored. This is a valid goal.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The referee did the correct thing.

What happened after is a disgrace. Those players should be given lengthy bans. I wonder if the referee abandoned the match after that incident...

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The major difficulty is players of this day and age expect a ceremonial restart at every free kick. They are wrong! It is a free kick after all and the team awarded a free kick is free to take it when and as they like. Brazil expected their foul play would allow a bit of time for numbers to get back in defense. Dallas saw an opening and exploited it. Well done Dallas.

As to charging into and knocking over the referee, did he have the courage to send-off those involved?

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The referee never stopped play other than calling the foul and thus there was no reason to resart. As long as the ball is put on the correct spot, a quick kick is allowed here. I echo my colleagues comments regarding the terrible incident that followed.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

It is a MYTH after awarding a free kick that a referee MUST signal to the team that created the stoppage to let then know when play can or has resumed. The optimum word in FREE kick is FREE! The defending team has no rights and a single obligation that is to withdraw a minimum of ten yards. Given that the defenders fail this single obligation so very often, except us to not be sympathetic to their rights anytime soon!

IF a referee intervenes in the free kick before it is taken because of the NEED a caution or send off is required, or at the request of the fouled team it is at this juncture where he may indicate that no restart will occur without a whistle. However even that is not a quarantine unless he specifically says so and indicates with the body language as in raising the arm holding a whistle and pointing at it.

My suggestions as a defender is to get in behind the ball ASAP and expect the restart ASAP then you will not be surprised. If you yap at the referee or argue about the ball placement or get into the face of an opponent thinking by creating delay conditions this is ok you are sadly mistaken and not only could the free kick go ahead you are in further danger of being sanctioned for misconduct if what you have done or are doing prevents or delays or affects it!

In the incident you talk about I watched #3 defender foul the Dallas player, the referee was about 20 yards away and he was running to the spot to sell the foul and because in my opinion he was a bit too far away he stood and pointed resolutely. #4 defender had a word of some sort to the referee and it appeared the referee did respond, not sure what was said but the referee did not make any apparent motions at that time that indicated a whistled restart. The ball was returned from up field and placed then the referee was no longer in my view given the camera angles on the restart spot but I did see the #7 defender appeared to be indicating while looking right that he wanted a whistle restart. The milling about, a few gestures and then bang the shot is in the back of the net catching the defenders flat footed. In my opinion the referee did nothing obvious to me that he had said or signaled that we will be restarting with the whistle this was an incorrect assumption on the part of the defenders. As long as the referee had decided not to engage the defenders with talk and distracted them the defenders CHOOSING to talk to the referee is much different and he bears no responsibility for their actions only his own. There was no doubt in my mind the defenders were trying to delay the restart as well as not respecting the ten yards and cautions could easily be awarded. The goal was sweet icing and the referee being attacked as he was; those responsible are hopefully facing serious discipline charges as the actions were despicable.
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 18647