Question Number: 22911

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/8/2010

RE: Competive Adult

Steven Bouse of Cardiff, Wales asks...

I am a goalkeeper. Our defender took out the striker when through on goal. Our defender rightly got sent off. Then as I was setting up my wall the striker took a quick free kick and scored. The referee allowed the goal. As the game was stopped for our defender to be sent off I thought the ref would have to blow his whistle to indicate that the game had re-started. As he didn't blow his whistle before the free kick was taken my reckoning is that the game was still stopped so the goal shouldn't have stood. Could you please enlighten me on this rule as its never happened to me (or my team) before.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

While best mechanics dictate the referee would have blown the whistle to restart play after having stopped play for the offense and the issuance of the card, the referee has not violated any Law by allowing the free kick to be quickly taken.

Defenders have no right to set a wall - if they have time and opportunity, they should do so quickly to protect their goal - but the attacking team is under no obligation to wait for them to do so - nor is the referee. Expecting that a kick will be ceremonial can be deadly for defenses, as you have unfortunately discovered.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steven

Electricians treat every electric wire as if it were a live one. You might recall the Ryan Giggs free kick versus Lille which almost caused the Lille players to walk off the field of play in protest. They were of the mistaken opinion that the referee had to signal for the free kick to be taken and the club's appeal was subsequently dismissed by UEFA.
Now advice to referees is that the whistle is needed to restart after a stoppage such as a dismissal, caution, substitution, injury etc. I personally follow the Laws' Guidelines to Referees on this as by not doing so can cause match control issues. So for me it is always on the whistle yet other referees can and do have a different opinion on this as you have found out. If this FK had hit the defenders or went wide the attacking team had to accept the consequences. If the referee had intervened by moving players into a ceremonial restart then it is on the whistle. At two ceremonial free kicks that I awarded in a recent game I had moved the wall back 10 yards, had moved to my position and I noticed that the goalkeeper was still setting up the defensive wall, completely out of position. Now did he want me to wait until he was ready before blowing the whistle?
My advice on this is to assume every restart can proceed without the whistle unless told otherwise by the referee.

In 2005 UEFA gave the following Advice to its Referees. Perhaps the referee is still using that advice.
"" After discussions concerning the best method of controlling free kicks it was agreed that the following procedure would be of benefit.
1. Once any disciplinary measures have been dealt with, ensure that the ball is positioned where the offence occurred.
2. If the attacking team have decided not to immediately have a quick free kick, then clearly advise them that they must wait for a signal.
3. The referee should first manage any defending players directly in front of the ball, cautioning those who do not withdraw quickly.
4. Manage the wall by measuring the 9.15m distance (not through the wall but to the side) while simultaneously controlling the position of the ball.
5. Take up a correct position, (controlling the ball, wall and being able to see the assistant referee)
6. Signal to take the free kick. If the defenders advance from the wall before the kick is taken, have the free kick retaken if a goal is not scored and caution offending player(s).
7. Control that the ball is in the correct position again and follow the same procedure.""

In 2007 UEFA updated this with the following, no doubt aware of the Lille incident. Note the key words "Total Control"
Attacking free kicks
1. To ensure total control, it is important that once the free kick has been awarded the referee must ensure that the ball is placed in the correct position and the kicker clearly told to wait for a signal from the referee before proceeding (This should be a show of the whistle to the kicker).
2. Before ?walking? the defending players to the correct 9.15m distance it is essential that all defending players are removed from the area where the offence occurred.
3. Any player who refuses to retreat the required minimum distance must be cautioned.
4. The referee must ensure that once the ball is placed in the correct position it is not moved.
5. Attention must be paid to defending players who encroach before the kick is taken, particularly players within the wall who shuffle forward.
6. If encroachment occurs during the taking of the kick and a goal is not scored, the kick should be retaken and the offending player cautioned.""

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

From the Interpretation and Guidelines section of the Laws on page 76, 'Use of the Whistle':
? restart play after it has been stopped due to:
? the issue of a yellow or red card for misconduct
? injury
? substitution

The restart should have been whistled.

I don't know how UEFA reconciles their procedure with the Laws; perhaps their advice is older.

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

See Question: 22936