Question Number: 22366

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/26/2009

RE: select Under 10

jay samples of chatt, tn usa asks...

if an offensive player crosses the line before a free kick is made what should the ruling be?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Your question makes the reply very difficult. In general the only lines that players cannot pass before a kick is made is the kick off where players must be in their own half. If they enter the other half the kick off is retaken.
The other line is the penalty area on a penalty kick. If a teammate of the kicker enters the penalty area before the kick is taken, the penalty is retaken if a goal is scored. If the penalty is saved and the ball rebounds the referee awards an Indirect free kick to the defense from where the offensive player entered the penalty area. If player from both teams enter the penalty area before the kick is taken the penalty is retaken irrespective of the outcome.
The only other one that I can think of is where a player is off the field of play for treatment of an injury. If he enters before the kick is taken the player is cautioned. The referee can play advantage or if he stops play to caution the player who re-enters without permission the restart is an indirect free kick from where play was stopped or he can award a direct free kick if the player infringes Law 12 such as a handball.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

On a free kick, there is no restriction on the location of attacking player except for kickoffs and penalty kicks.

On a kickoff, the referee should require a retake of the kick if the infringement is not trifling. It is common, however, for someone to straddle the line and this is often ignored as trifling.

Ref McHug has given the two alternatives on encroachment during a penalty kick.