Question Number: 18664

Law 13 - Free Kicks 4/1/2008

RE: Competitive & Tournament Under 19

Steve of Vero Beach, FL USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 18648

Hypothetical: Blue team is awarded a DFK. Blue #4 takes a quick kick. Red #5 moves in to block it but doesn't touch the ball. Ball goes off Red GK over the crossbar. Law 13 says the DFK is retaken and Law 12 says Caution & YC to Red #5. Is it possible to award the Corner kick and still Caution YC Red #5?

What happens if the ball goes in the net? You wouldn't call back the goal, right? If no, can/should we still Caution/YC Red #5?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The problem with what you suggest is an issue of timing.

The player who fails to respect the 10 yards distance, he does so prior to the restart of play. If you choose to let the kick "count" then you could not return to caution. Instead, here is an unorthodox approach that I might use.

1. Permit the kick to be taken. See what happens next.
2. IF it goes in, count the goal. No caution.
3. IF it is saved or doesn't go in, blow the whistle, caution the defender, and have the kick retaken.
4. IF they don't take an immediate shot, follow steps in #3.

Remember this has to be a sort of immediate situation. If the kick doesn't go right at the keeper, you're going to have a problem selling the caution. You will need to make it "seem" like you aren't making the decision considerably later than it should be made. The goal would be the best result, but if that doesn't come out it's very likely that the encroachment impacted the kick taker. So, we should be cautioning the defender, but if you deem the kick has been properly taken and that no offense had happened prior to the kick you cannot then go back to issue a caution as the restart has already happened.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

well said and to emphasize, you cannot award a corner kick and still caution

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

See Question: 18680