Question Number: 19219

Law 13 - Free Kicks 5/28/2008

RE: rec Adult

JP of Fayetteville, ar USA asks...

RE: Free Kicks.

Here is the scenario. The attacking team is awarded a direct free kick due to an foul. They desire a quick restart, and the player wishing to take the free kick moves to kick the ball. At the same time, an opponent/defender rushes up from an area not in the immediate area of the foul to stand right in front of the ball, blocking the quick restart. Is there any circumstance in which this might be a red-card offense? I am aware that this is at least a cautionable offense for failing to respect the required distance. I thought I read somewhere last year that this can be a red-card offense.

Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I can hope you thought wrong, delaying the restart or failure to respect the distance is a cautionable show a yellow card it can only be a red card if this offence is a second yellow offence. We do not like to see players get away with such things but so far even we think red a tad harsh.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It can only be a caution. If it's the second caution for this player, then it's a send-off.

Perhaps you were thinking that somehow this could be construed as Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) which is a red card. That is not the case. While some misconduct offenses could also qualify as DOGSO, they must occur while the ball is in play. That's because one of the requirements of DOGSO is that the restart for the offense is a free kick. The restart we currently have is a free kick, but that was for the original foul. The misconduct of delaying the restart happened during the stoppage, so it is not a DOGSO situation.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

This is a cautionable offense. It is not a a send off offense unless the player committed another cautionable offense at the same time. If a player stands in front of the ball to prevent a quick kick, then he probably deserves the caution.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

In this case the caution should be given by all but the most unknowing referee. A caution! This kind of activity must have its consequences of the match will be very long for the referee.

Regards,