Question Number: 20083

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/27/2008

RE: SELECT Under 14

Joe Sutter of St. LOUIS, MO USA asks...

We recently had a game when a player for our team was taking a direct free kick from right outside the box. When she started to approach the ball to strike it a defender started to charge and was within the 10 yards allowed when the ball was struck. What should be the call as the referee said there was no problem with this. I have seen cards for this in the past and want to know what is the correct ruling.

Thanks

Joe

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Opponents must yield 10 yards in all directions from the site of a free kick. If they do not, they are to be cautioned.

If the player encroached as the kick was taking place, the ref will see what happens. If the encroaching player touches the ball, play will be stopped, she will be cautioned, and the free kick will be retaken. If the encroaching player does not touch the ball, the ref may elect to allow play to continue with no caution - but the player should be spoken to at the next opportunity.

This is the 2nd paragraph from Advice to Referees, section 13.3:
"If one or more opponents fail to respect the required distance before the ball is properly put into play, the referee should stop the restart to deal with this infringement as required by the Law. The free kick must be retaken even if the momentum of play causes the ball to be kicked before the referee signals. The infringement plus the referee's decision to deal with it cancel any apparent restart regardless of a delay in announcing the decision. However, referees are also expected to consider whether the infringement on the minimum distance was trifling (had no effect on the freedom of the attackers to restart) and, if so, to refrain from issuing a caution and to allow play to proceed."

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

At the moment the opponent started to charge your player before the kick was taken, the referee should have stopped play, cautioned this player for failing to give the REQUIRED 10 yards and shown the yellow card. He should have also verbally instructed said player NOT to do this again and then proceeded with the kick. Had the kick already taken place the referee may, depending on the result of the kick, allow play to continue but should at the least verbally warn the player