Question Number: 30196

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/15/2016

RE: Adult

Keith Ellel of BLACKBURN, Lancs United Kingdom asks...

During a recent English League match, a player's boot came off.

With the ball still in play, his goalkeeper retained the ball for some 30 to 40 seconds, bouncing it and kicking it around to give his team-mate time to undo the knot and replace his boot.

Was the referee right to allow this delay?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Keith ,
sounds fishy to me!
If the ball was actually IN play then the opponents CAN challenge the keeper who CAN NOT be using his hands after the 1st 6 seconds. The keeper can not be bouncing the ball using the hands for 30 or 40 seconds, dribbling the ball is fine. Usually the player simply puts the boot on as play continues? It is possible the referee simply watched in amazement as the opposition allowed this to go on without him doing anything? No reason to allow a stoppage , if there WAS a stoppage then a drop ball is the only restart possible? How did play resume? With a whistle?
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Keith
Under the Laws of the Game once the goalkeeper has possession of the ball in his grasp which includes bouncing the ball he has 6 seconds to release the ball back into play. Most times the 6 seconds gets extended a little yet certainly not up to 30/40 seconds.
Now if the goalkeeper released the ball to the ground from his grasp and the ball is kicked around for 30/40 seconds among that team with the opponents acquiescing to this with no challenge or pressure then no law has been broken and the referee will not intervene. That will be seen as part of play and if the teams do not want to compete for 30/40 seconds while a player fixes his boot then so be it. Perhaps the teams saw it as Fair Play.
Now I have seen a growing trend of players looking for a delay at a restart to tie laces. It was always prevalent at underage yet rarely in senior football. Play was never delayed to allow laces to be tied yet it is increasing now.