Question Number: 19605

Law 13 - Free Kicks 7/14/2008

RE: Rec/Select Under 17

Bob of Charlottesville, VA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19597

Following up on question 19597.

I watch a lot of pro soccer on tv. Many times I see defenders run up towards the ball during a free kick so that the played ball strikes them well within the ten yards required. The run begins before the ball has been played and they are sometimes as close as 3-5 yards when the ball is played. Yet the refs do nothing. Do they think this is trivial? Their match on that given day and all, but I can't imagine this would be considered trivial. Especially if the free kick is anywhere near the penalty area with a chance on goal and quite often ends up in a counter attack going the other way.

I see a lot of young players mimicking what they see on tv, and of course I put a stop to it very quickly.

I guess I just don't understand the logic behind why pro refs allow this kind of behavior.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If the kick is unaffected and the result advantagous then yes some referees will not retake for example if a goal results. The trifling aspect or a verbal warning but allow play to continue is within a referee's discrestion but I agree 100% with you SHOULD retake and caution if the oposition breaks too early unless there is a significant reason not too like a goal or a fast break started in otherwords the restart benifits the team taking it more than a retake might do. Note that some free kicks are indfk or even on DFKs a small touch occurs in the set up. If the Ball moves the opposition CAN move too ! Keep in mind there are options available and a TV referee discerns things that you and I might not be privy too

(1)Law 13 says simply we can retake a free kick if the opposition is within ten yards. NO mention of a caution, no one is neccessarily in trouble just something a referee could do!
(2)It also states if a QUICK kick results in an opponent intercepting the ball who is closer than 10 yards we can allow play
(3)It also states that we COULD caution those who delay the restart or fail to respect distance.
(4)It also states we need to retake the free kick if it is not from the point of the infraction. Somedays that point is a blade of grass if it NEEDS to be.
Can you see how a referee unsure of point 2 or 3 could use point 1 and why point 4 could solve a host of controversey as well?
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I think what you are seeing are referees that for whatever reason have decided not to enforce Law 13. This makes it more difficult for the rest of us that believe ALL the Laws were written for a reason and they should be followed. Watch a penalty kick on television and you're likely to see 10 players just a step or so behind the kicker when he contacts the ball and we all remember Briana Scurry coming a good 5 yards off her line at penalty kicks.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

These referees lack the courage to deal with the situation. They may feel that it did not influence the play...so they should not call it. Eitherway..it should be delt with in some way.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Many pro leagues have the sentiment that the fans come and pay to see the star players play. They don't want the players sent off for what they consider to be frivilous things. Therefore the referees have to be wary just who they caution for what lest there be a second-caution send off, or they won't be getting many more games in the league. And since the players seem to accept that every free kick will be ceremonial, and that the whistle means the wall can crash in, the refs let them get away with it. Then it trickles down to our level, and we have to deal with the problem.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Bob, you have to remember that 'pro soccer' is show business and the stars are the players. When the referee cautions a player for encroachment he suddenly becomes the focus of attention. To get ahead in refereeing you have to play your political cards right. I am afraid you are not going to get too far in reffing.

As I rose in the referee ranks my ultimate status was predetermined for the same reason as yours are. It appears we don't play politics too well. It seems that we have to use 'common sense' which translated means whatever pleases the powers to be. Bob, of course what they do is wrong but there are are other factors behind the scene that influences their deecision. These guys are not dumb. They do it for a reason.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee at that level of play must recognize what the players themselves accept as fair play and if what they accept is not 'that' far afield then the referee should not intervene. It is a fine line and and quite an exquisite balancing act to weigh what the players accept against what the Laws say and one referee will differ from another.

Once more thing you should watch out for is the differences between MLS and the rest of the world. MLS is more owner oriented that dependent on what the Laws say and referees who wish to officiate there must please the owners. Until that is fixed you will find huge differences in the way The Game is played here and the way it is in the rest of the world.

Regards,