Question Number: 30261

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/6/2016

RE: competitive Other

fontzal of MARIETTA, GA United States asks...

can i throw the ball in to my player who can them head it to the keeper to circumvent the pass back rule?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The action of circumventing Law 12 is not allowed and it results in a caution to the offender with an IDFK from where the circumvention took place.
Now some circumvention is obvious and that will be dealt with easily whereas some others can be much more subtle to detect or questionable.
In your example you use the word circumvent and on that basis the action would not be allowed. There can be times though were it just happens as part of play where perhaps the ball bounces up and there is a challenge by an opponent with the ball getting headed back to the GK.
The ones that referees look for are the contrived, set up scenarios and thankfully they rarely if ever arise now. I might add that the benefits of gaining 6 seconds do not come anywhere near the risk of the referee penalising the action with a caution and an IDFK so why do it.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Fontzal,
silly thing to do risking loss of possession for circumventing the LOTG. As my colleague points out you MIGHT get away with it if the referee is unsure but my suggestion is don't!
Cheers