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Question Number: 2987

Other

RE: High Level Under 18

Eric Mayer of , asks...

What is the correct restart?..1. Play is going on up field, and an attacker and defender start fighting with one another. I have my back to the play, but i hear the commotion and turn around seeing the kids fighting. After the fight is over, how do i restart play? I think drop ball because both teams started fighting, but i am not sure! ..2. What if i saw a kid punch an opponent and they both started to fight, after the fight is over, do i give the kid who got punched in the face first the ball (direct free kick), or do i do a drop ball because they both were fighting?..3. Heres a little point that i want to make sure of... If I (the referee) get punched, kicked, spit at, abusive language towards me, tripped, or any other offenses commited by one team, is the result always an indirect free kick for the other team because i am not considered an effect on play, what exactly is the restart?..4. If the goalie has possession of the ball and is about to get rid of it, and an opponent interferes with the goalie by following him or jumping in front of him, am i correct to call an indirect free kick for the goalies team and award the player a yellow card, or just a verbal warning to the player?..5. This is a Technique question... When i do games that require a walk-on by teams and officials, i am always unsure what the proper procedure is. I know Center Ref walks in between the 2 Assistant's with ball in Left Hand (does it really matter left or right?), and the Assistants walk with their flags furled. But which hand do the Assistants hold the flag in, away from the center referee, or towards the referee? So, if i am center referee and i have an assistant on my left, does he hold flag in left hand away from me, or in right hand to the inside of me (this goes for the other assistant too)? When we arrive at the center mark, after the lineup is over, we shake hands and the assistants break towards the goals, and then the assistants run around the outside of the field and around the outside of the corner flag to their second to last defender positions. Is this walk-on procedure correct? Can you please explain as best as possible on if i am doing it right or not? ..Thanks so much for the help, it seems like every day i have a new question and you guys are always here to help me!.Thanks again...Eric

Answer provided by Referee ref

This issue of Drop Ball was raised in question 2676 and caused much discussion. As for Mr Matheson and Mr Dawson thier points of view indicate we agree to disagree here. I suggest you explore the content in those answers as well.



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Answer provided by Referee Victor Matheson

OK, lots of questions. First, the fighting issue. If you stop play for a fight, restart with a direct free kick for the opponent of the team who threw the first punch. If you don't know who threw the first punch, try to figure it out by talking to your assistant referees or even the players if need be. If you can't figure out who threw the first punch, take a guess and give the free kick to one of the teams. Do not give a drop ball. It makes it appear that you don't have any clue what is going on. Even if you don't have a clue what's going on, you don't need to let everyone else know that. Second, something bad happens to the referee. If you stop play for actions towards the referee, the restart is always an indirect free-kick for the opposing team from the point of the misconduct. Third, obstruction of the goalkeeper. Usually a verbal warning is sufficient to satisfy the goalkeeper and to keep the attacker from interfering with the goalkeeper in the future. Fourth, the walk-on procedure. Generally, the assistant referees put the flag in the outside hand, and it doesn't matter in which hand you carry the ball. If there is a national anthem, it is customary to put the ball on the ground for the anthem. If you have international teams and two national anthems, make sure you show the same respect to both anthems. Here's a last little tip for all of our readers. You are encouraged to submit as many questions as you wish. We love all of your questions. If you have two questions about completely different issues, however, please simply submit these as two separate questions in the "Ask a Question" area rather than asking them both in the same submission. It makes it easier for us to classify them in our database.



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Answer provided by Referee Dawson

Hi Eric,. You ask excellent questions but I concur with my Colleague Mr. Matheson. Please separate questions. As a volunteer site we are hard pressed to find enough free time to properly address each issue effectively. I agree with points 2 to 5 completely, however ..I must take umbrage at my colleague?s stance on your 1st question though. Please note this is my personal opinion and not policy. Also note I am not a USA referee. I must advise you that my opinion may not do you any good if you are assessed by USA officials or require an answer as absolute fact. I will tell you I have contacted the USSF and requested a factual answer. It was reluctantly given as a drop ball. ..By all means use everything at your disposal to determine the culprit of the original altercation. The USSF policy is YOU HAD BETTER KNOW! It is unacceptable mechanics and procedures in an elite match but If YOU DO NOT KNOW what are you told you must do? In my research I see nothing that would prevent a drop ball from accomadating these rare circumstances. Even if taught as never do that never is a long time and ITOOTR there is room for thought. ..If the two fouls are equal in severity, i.e. both DFK fouls, the referee MUST make a choice of whom to penalize. Law 12 mandates that restart after fouls are penalized by either a DFK or IFK.. .The hard-line stance is not without credit Law 12 identifies penal and technical fouls and their appropriate punishment. The LOTG state to award a DFK if play is stopped for a penal foul. Yet it does not say literally that two concurrent penal fouls from two opposing players you are obligated to pick one over the other. By implication perhaps, but what about this next bit?..The LOTG state an IFK is to be awarded if a player commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player. Make no mistake fighting is a send off (Both players should be red carded) We are punishing the misconduct but not the foul(s) Yet it does not say literally that two concurrent misconduct?s of equal severity from two opposing players you are obligated to pick one over the other for a restart. .However, I think the Laws were written with the implication that we would be able to award whichever free kick based on our being able to reasonably figure out which person was the initial or most egregious offender. The LOTG are nothing if not fair. Where's the fairness to arbitrarily decide to give a free kick to either team when you and your AR's are clueless as to what occurred? ..That's why Law 8: A dropped ball is a way of restarting the match after a temporary stoppage, which becomes necessary, while the ball is in play, for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws of the Game. So in fact is that premise satisfied? Have we clearly been told what we must do or can we infer what we wish to? ..I understand the policy in place that frowns upon drop balls as a cop out. Experienced referees give very few drop balls primarily because they know their restarts and can be creative in their approaches from policy and knowledge of the laws...However, this incident is much more likely as a single refereed recreational game or with inexperienced ARs. It is not necessary to quess but you can weigh the evidence and make a choice of awarding a DFK based on your belief of who committed the first penal foul. If there is absolutely no evidence either way A DROP BALL is neither weak nor indecisive even if some believe it to be incorrectly used. Using LAW 18. It is in a fact a decision based on No knowledge rather than Some knowledge. You do not call what you can not see. You can look every bit as foolish awarding a free kick to the wrong team as you can possibly awarding a drop ball. My thought here is this is an isolated incident VERY rare to have no clue who is at fault. The real key is player and game management. Looking foolish in my opinion is not a reason to be afraid of making a decision. A drop ball is a decision and from a coach?s and player and fan perspective I would not be upset if a referee did so..As a referee you are aware the players are fighting. You know they need to go. If there is any way to avoid blowing the whistle while the ball is in play it could save you this dilemma I would suggest it but given the need to deal with the misconduct doubtful. .It is not always a reflection of your competence that you do not know who started it. Sure at times there are indicators and a good referee keeps a sharp eye out or advises the ARs to do the same if players are looking a bit too ready to cause commotion off the ball. .I noticed the tendency to compare this incident to a real time view of a referee's indecision to witnessing a ball go out for a throw, corner or goal kick and not being sure who to award the restart to. .A referee calls what he sees. In these 3 cases, the players know, the coaches know, and the fans know, the referee was watching and they expect a decision. They might not agree but as stated by others. You make it clear, no hesitation, with authority "That?s my Call Let?s Get on With It" .The difference here is the referee did not see it at all. There is no credible way to determine guilt. .What is likely is everyone will be aware the referee has no idea no matter what you do. .I will agree you must sell your decision with 100% conviction as INDFK Or DFK OR LAW 18 and a Drop Ball. Cheers



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