To Whistle Or Not To Whistle?
Things You Didn't Know About Things You Know Well
Referees must make quick decisions and the luxury of time to think it over, look it up, or discuss it with someone is not an option during the game. Test your knowledge and see if you can answer the following questions.
1.The referee forgets to raise his arm as required to indicate the kick is indirect. The red team player kicks the ball directly into the blue team's goal. What should the referee do and how is play restarted?
Answer: Disallow the goal and restart by retaking the indirect free kick (IFK). See page 122 in current Laws of the Game where it states, "An indirect free kick must be retaken if the referee fails to raise his arm to indicate that the kick is indirect and the ball is kicked directly into the goal. The initial indirect free kick is not nullified by the referee's mistake." Also see USSF Advice to Referees, 13.9 where it states, "If the referee fails either to give the correct signal for in IFK or to hold it for the required period of time, the IFK must be retaken, regardless of the original outcome. In particular, if the kick results in a goal either directly or indirectly, the goal cannot be counted."
2.The red team elects to take a quick kick before the referee has a chance to raise his arm as required to indicate the kick is indirect. The red team player kicks the ball directly into the blue team's goal. What should the referee do and how is play restarted?
Answer: Disallow the goal and restart by retaking the indirect free kick. Same references as question #1.
3.The red team elects to take a quick kick before an opposing blue team player has retreated the required 10 yards. The blue team player intercepts the ball. What should the referee do and how is play restarted?
Answer: Continue play. See page 122 in current Laws of the Game where it states, "If a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who is less than 9.15 meters from the ball intercepts it, the referee must allow play to continue." Also see USSF Advice to Referees, 13.3, where it states, "An attacking team may exercise its right to take a free kick when the players see an advantage to do so even with an opponent closer than the minimum distance. However, they may not thereafter claim infringement of the distance requirement if the ball is kicked to an infringing opponent who is able to control the ball ‘without moving toward it.' In this case, because the attacking side has considered the encroachment trivial, the referee must accept what he or she has seen."
4.The red team tries to take a quick kick but an opposing blue team player prevents the quick kick. What should the referee do and how is play restarted?
Answer: Caution the blue team player and restart with the original indirect free kick for the red team. See page 122 in current Laws of the Game where it states, "If a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who is near the ball deliberately prevents him taking the kick, the referee must caution the player for delaying the restart of play." Also see USSF Advice to Referees, 13.3, 6th paragraph states: "On the other hand, when the attacking team has exercised the option to restart play quickly and the opponent closer than the required distance moves towards the ball and performs an act that makes a difference in the play, such as blocking the ball, that player has committed an offence that must be dealt with firmly in accordance with the Law." After the referee has cautioned the failure to respect the required distance, the original free kick must be retaken as required by Law
