Question Number: 23034

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/29/2010

RE: Under 17

Davw of des moines, ia US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 22997

What is the best way to handle this?
Couldn't you allow play to go on and caution him at the next stoppage?
What if the kicker made a goal in this situation?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The USSF has published a directive on Free Kick Management, and it is an excellent resource for your question.

1. The referee should be proactive in managing verbally the players early in the match to set the tone that the distance will be respected.

2. If the referee allows the kick to proceed, the referee may not apply advantage and caution at the next stoppage. The USSF does not interpret advantage as applying to free kicks under Law 13. Other federations may have a different interpretation.

3. The referee may employ a form of wait and see - - if the defender deflects the ball, stop play immediately. Caution and retake. If not, and the ball is struck on goal, the referee may decide not to stop play (forfeiting the right to caution the defender) and then use a strong private or public word to warn the defender against trying it again.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
In a situation that results in a goal or likely to result in a goal the referee should always endeavour to allow play to continue. That takes a good degree of understanding the game and to predict what is likely to happen. It can be a combination of seeing the offence as trifling with little impact on subsequent play and that the team would be disadvantaged by stopping play to bring it back.
If the referee allows play to continue and a goal has been scored that is indeed the best result. If a team was asked did it want an opponent cautioned and a retake or a goal then they would take a goal every single time.
In addition if the referee allows play to continue there is a good chance that he believes that the encroachment is not in the caution category in that the attacking team has not been disadvantaged by the action. He may decide to have a word with the defending players at the next ceremonial free kick to ensure that there is no repeat.