Question Number: 20975

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/14/2009

RE: Competitive Under 19

William Guynes of California, MD USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20964

The scenario I am replying to had many issues, as the refs correctly pointed out.

1. Center should have awarded a DFK for tripping. (LotG Law 12 DFK#2)
2. Center should have held restart until whistle and not given kicker chance to restart early. (ATR 13.3)

But let us assume the Center does make these initial two mistakes. So now we are at, 'ball hits the retiring defender in the back'.

Here I believe is the Center's 3rd error.

The restart should stand. See ATR 13.3 paragraph 4. The attacker chose to restart knowing the defender had not finished retiring. He must live with his decision.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Let's assume for argument's sake that the call was for playing in a dangerous manner. Far-fetched, I agree, but possible, and that restart is an IDFK. But even if it is a DFK offense, what followed is not necessarily an issue, as you correctly note with the reference to ATR 13.3, Para. 4

All referees at some point or other in a game don't insert themselves in the restart to set a wall, they simply tell defenders to move back. This is acceptable assuming distance from kicks has not been a real issue in the game and assuming the defense moves to comply immediately, and especially if the free kick is somewhere near midfield as it was in this case. Red was complying, and Blue had no reason to wait for a whistle based on any indications from the referee. Thus, kicking the ball and hitting a retiring defender is no reason to bring the kick back.

We all know about folks who go about making ass-umptions, but the facts control. If the only real error here is bringing the kick back for a retake given what had NOT transpired in the interim, then yes, the kick could stand.

Of course, in the intial scenario, when the attack asks for 10 yards, we've moved to a ceremonial kick and the referee failed to perform this function. Everything after that simply compounded the error. Would love to have heard the assessor on this one try to deconstruct it for the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I would agree that the referee compounded his error and should have not brought the ball back and allowed the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

All well and good, except in the original question Blue had asked the ref to enforce the 10-yard distance. If that happens, Blue has given up the right to a quick kick.