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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL & WELCOME
to AskTheRef.com, a Soccer Law/Rules Question & Answer site!
Operating since October 11, 1999, that is 25 years as an independent, FREE, public service site. Dedicated to personally answering your questions regarding any Professional or Grassroots, FIFA, College, High school, or Youth soccer game situation. To ask a question simply click on Ask the Ref in the menu bar, post your question!

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You Call It!

After two years and many request - You Call It is back! Now it's your turn to test your knowledge in a scenario created by our panel of referees. If your answer is spot on we will publish it on our site! Good luck click here!

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/9/2024

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

I'm not sure. I'd be interested in the criteria. I understand that it's up to the referee to decide. And there are no such things as criteria. I'd almost say that he has to kick him in the head or misses his head by 20 centimeters or less. :-)

I just found this article. It's eight years old, so I guess I'm mistaken that it's more benevolent now. So I'm changing my mind. It's the same. :-)

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10575459/should-overhead-goals-from-diego-costa-and-laurent-koscielny-have-stood

Thanks!...

Read The Full Q & A

Other 12/9/2024

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

There are 24 official languages in the European Union alone. I see 5 of those languages on the IFAB website. (English, German, French, Spanish, and interestingly, Slovenian. Slovenian is a smaller language than Czech. Czech has about 13 million speakers, including emigration and minorities around the world. Slovenian has 2 million.)

Countries with small languages must translate the rules. In our country, this is done by the Rules Committee of the Football Association of the Czech Republic.
In our country, which was under Russian influence for 40 years (20 of which were under the presence of the Russian army), Russian was the main foreign language taught in schools. Or rather, in the vast majority of schools, the only one. ...

Read The Full Q & A

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/8/2024

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Hello

I have another question about the spirit of the rules.

Why do we rarely see the bicycle kick as a
dangerous play at the highest level? I would say much less than, say, five to ten years ago. Have referees become more tolerant?

Thank you very much!
...

Read The Full Q & A

Law 3 - The Players 12/8/2024

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

So that's another problem with the Czech version of the rules.

Believe it or not, they write this there:

A player can intentionally leave the field of play without permission.

when the player:
a) is injured
b) crosses the line in a game action and immediately returns
c)leaves the field of play to avoid being offside
d) leaves the field of play when taking a corner kick, free kick or throw-in
e) leaves the field of play to put the equipment in order

Thanks!...

Read The Full Q & A

Law 3 - The Players 12/7/2024

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Hello

one more 're-enter' question please.

The ball is in play. The player voluntarily decides to leave the field of play (due to injury or equipment repair). This is allowed by the rules.

Does the player have to ask permission to return? When can he return?

I'm talking about a player leaving the field of play while the ball is in play, not after the whistle. I can't find it in the rules. (This part doesn't make sense then: '...may only re-enter after play has restarted...') :-)

Thank you very much!...

Read The Full Q & A

High School 12/5/2024

RE: High School

Robert J Saccoia of Rancho Cucamonga, CA United States asks...

When the Ref does not know the number of a player who committed a yellow card foul
And no one will admit to it who should get the card, captain, coach or no one?...

Read The Full Q & A

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 12/4/2024

Crebs Crem of Zagreb, Croatia asks...

Hello,

This question is about disallowed penalty given because of an off-the-ball challenge.

Say, there is an off-the-ball challenge between players A5 and B5 in the penalty area of team B. At that time, the ball is being played in midfield. In the challenge, player A5 trips onto his/her own foot and falls down. Since the ball is played in midfield, the referee is far from players A5 and B5 and therefore incorrectly calls a penalty kick for team A. Then, VAR intervenes, the referee sees the incident on the monitor and decides it is no offence. At this point, where should the referee drop the ball, in midfield or in the penalty area where the off-the-ball challenge took place? ...

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Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/2/2024

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Hello,

one situation from Czech League please.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DewVHuBQarg

(I hope it works abroad too.)

I'd rather describe it. The attacker lightly touches the passed ball. The goalkeeper jumps to the ground at his feet. The attacker hits the goalkeeper's hand with the sole of his foot. Then the ball ends up in the goal. The goal is awarded.

Could it be that if the goalkeeper is lying on the ground, it is difficult not to hit him?

Thank you very much!

...

Read The Full Q & A

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/28/2024

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

Hi all,

I saw this "goof up" back pass in social media and wondered if we are classing this as a back pass where a keeper should not be faulted for using his hands.

I'm thinking at the grassroots level at least, it could be a "play on", as we know the intention was never to waste time. It certainly is not a pass TO the keeper.

The video is clipped, so we don't know the outcome. Perhaps a striker came through and knocked an easy goal in. We also don't know if the defender is rushed in any way.

Some responses were calling for a penalty kick, which is (of course) not the right answer. IDFK from the 6 yard line at best.

Your thoughts? Does it matter if it's on the ground or a rushed upward...

Read The Full Q & A

Law 5 - The Referee 11/25/2024

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Thanks, I think I understand now. I hope. :-)

But then in situation 3 I order IDFK for dangerous play. (A5's PIADM -> 'silent' advantage for Team B -> B33's foul -> I'm going back to the original offense -> B5's handball occurs after -> IDFK for Team A)

Now I realize that the referee who inspired me to create situations assessed it exactly like this in a real Champions League match.

Have a good time and thanks again....

Read The Full Q & A

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