Question Number: 20892

Law 13 - Free Kicks 2/24/2009

RE: amateur Adult

Mikhail of Moscow, -- RUSSIA asks...

Hi, I would like to clarify whether any of the teams involved is allowed to ask the referee to signal game resume after the free kick?

We had an argument about that recently. We are just amateurs but play seriously and try to stick to official rules of the game. As a defending part, our team asked the attacking, who were to shoot a free kick, to wait until we form a wall, i.e. asked for a whistle.
After the game three of my opponents at once claimed that it is ONLY the attacking team which is entitled to such sort of requirement - as stated in LOTG, they said! Whereas I insisted that in real game it is only the referee who can make such decisions about the use of whistle.

I searched the rules and found only the words proving my point of view. According to 'Use of whistle' part of LOTG, 'the whistle is needed to restart play at free kicks when the wall is ordered back the appropriate distance... the referee should clearly announce to the players that the restart may not occur until after that signal'

Could you please tell me if my opponents are right or totally wrong?

Thanks and greetings from Russia!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The defenders have no rights and one responsibility at a free kick - to get back at least 10 yards as soon as possible. The defense cannot ask the referee to hold up play so they can get into desired positions. After all, you just stopped their attack by fouling them. Now you want even more time to hold up their play?

In the Interpretation and Guidelines section of the 2008-2009 Laws we find a section of use of the whistle on page 76. The whistle *IS* needed 'restart play at: ? free kicks when the wall is ordered back the appropriate distance.' The whistle is *NOT* needed to 'restart play from: ? a free kick, goal kick, corner kick, throw-in.' So only if the referee decides to manage the wall is the whistle needed.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi and you are welcome from Canada,
Having Gus Hiddink in charge of your national team has me envious as Canada could really use someone like that. I had hoped you could knock off Spain but it was a great Euro match against the Dutch and showed full value the Russian spirit and heart.

Free Kick, the optimum word is **free** the attacking team that was unjustly affected have the RIGHT to take a FREE kick as soon as they wish with no hassles or interference by the opposition.

The opposition MUST in law immediately retire a MINIMUM of 10 yards away from the spot of the infraction.

The defending team has NO, NONE, ZERO, NADA, right to ask for anything on a free kick. A referee should NOT interfere at the taking of a free kick unless the ATTACKING team taking the free kick requests his intervention OR he is forced to intervene and caution or send off an opposing player.

A referee need only acknowledge the restart was done correctly.
By allowing a QUICK restart, since he is not halting the play, he has consented by giving his permission.

A referee will observe that the ball is stationary, approximately from the spot of the infraction and there is no need to caution or send off an opposing player for the misconduct that accompanied the original stoppage first!

If the referee observes the opposing players are NOT retreating to the REQUIRED ten yards or seeking to delay the restart he is OBLIGED to caution them for doing so and then restarting.

In my opinion if a referee is constantly setting walls and interfering with the restart by making them ceremonial in nature where a whistle is used to restart simply because the defenders are allowed to stall/delay the FREE KICK opportunity with impunity the referee has FAILED in both of his obligations:
-- provide JUSTICE to the offended team
-- and enforce the laws of the game where a caution show a yellow card for delay of the restart or failure to respect the distance is required
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

A 'free' kick should be just that - free from interference by the defending team. The defense has zero - nil - no rights at the kick, only responsibilities. The main responsibility is for the defense to be at least 10 yards away in ALL directions from the ball until it is put into play. This means the defense has no right to set up a wall.

The attack can take the kick at any time after the whistle - known as a quick kick. Clearly this means there is no whistle from the referee needed to restart play.

Should the attack want to set up a play from the kick, they can do so. Defenders found standing too near the ball in such instances run the risk of getting a caution for failing to retire the distance - and the referee can give a caution to every defender standing too close to the ball.

Who gets to decide where at least 10 yards is? The referee - and the decision is final. If I have to set a wall, it will always be at least 12 yards away, because I shouldn't have to set a wall - the defenders are required to move at least the 10 yards without request.

Oh, and the wall, once I set it, cannot and better not move until the ball is kicked. The defender(s) who jump will be cautioned and the kick retaken, unless of course it scores.

Remember, when you are the attacking team, you'll appreciate this part of the Law.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Mikhail, as the team that committed the foul you have NO RIGHTS AT ALL. After all, it was your team that infringed on the Laws and disadvantaged the opponents. Why on earth would you think you had the right to further disadvantage them by making them wait for you to form a wall? You as the team that committed the infringement MUST retire the REQUIRED 10 yards immediately without the other team or the referee asking you to. Furthermore, if you do not, then you absolutely SHOULD be cautioned and shown a yellow card. the team TAKING the kick however, does have the right to ask the referee to set the wall. Once they do, they MUST wait for the referee to whistle them to take the kick. They also have the right to kick the ball as soon as they can hoping to get your team caught trying to form a wall they have no right to form. You misunderstood what you read in LOTG. The whistle is NOT required for a free kick to take place. What you quote only pertains to the situation where the referee has intervened and set the wall. The LOTG do NOT give the defending team the RIGHT to a ceremonial free kick. That right is ONLY given to the kicking team and the referee. And, thank you for the question. We would like to have many more from your wonderful country!!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Mikhail, your best bet is do not emulate the actions of professional players you watch on the television every weekend. Those folks conduct themselves as if the referee has been told to make every free kick ceremonial or to keep his cards in his pocket. So many referees have not correctly dealt with players who use foul play to kill off an attack they think it is permitted to delay a restart until they can get numbers behind the ball. NOT SO.

The only right a player defending a free kick has it to not be interfered with by the referee. Their obligation is to retire the 9,15 M as soon as the ball is stopped on the floor at point of the infraction. Failing to do that is a cautionable offence.

I believe that any player moving toward the ball, inside 9,15 M, should be cautioned and upon repetition sent off. It all referees in the world did that players would respond rather quickly and life would be better all 'round...

Regards,

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

See Question: 23673