Question Number: 19258

Law 13 - Free Kicks 6/3/2008

RE: Select Under 16

Edward Chapman of Ashburn, VA USA asks...

Direct Free Kick

The kicking team does not ask for 10 yards but the referee moves in front of the defending wall and starts walking the players backward. The kicking team puts the ball in play while the referee is in the process of moving the defenders. Is the referee correct in allowing play to continue before he completed the movement of the wall.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

No. Once the referee starts actively instructing (read: distracting) the defenders, he should only allow the match to restart once he gives a signal (read: blows the whistle). To do otherwise not only would be unfair to the defending side, but would also put the referee at risk to become an unwilling participant in a goal scoring play or even the goal scorer himself....... (I've seen that happen to another referee once, you don't want to be a goal scorer!)

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Agreed. Once the referee interferes, he cannot allow a quick kick as the referee is now distracting the defenders. As soon as he intervenes he should tell ALL not to proceed until he gives a whistle.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Why would the referee do this? If the failure to respect the 10-yard distance was egregious enough to warrant interrupting a free kick with instructions, the yellow card should have come out with a caution to one of the wall. Else, the referee should keep his nose out of it until the kicking team requests assistance. There is an instruction from on high stating that even saying something like "10 yards" or "move back" constitutes enough interference to require a ceremonial kick. Personally I see a simple warning as no different than "elbows down" or "straight up" when jumping for a header. But that's me.

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

See Question: 19312