Question Number: 14659

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 1/3/2007

Learner of Memphis, USA asks...

This is an imaginary position that I have almost faced. Assume referee has to stop the game because of a reason that requires drop ball as a restart. Since Team A had the clear possession of the ball before the game stopped. Team B player says he will kick the ball back to Team A and then Team A players go back to receive the ball. However, Team B player sends the ball to his team mate instead of sending to the Team A and then Team B develop an attack.

The similar situation may occur for a throw in situation for example Team A might send the ball out when a Team B player gets injured. Team B says they will send the ball team A then turn and send to his friend and they start playing as nothing happened.

As I said this is an imaginary position that I would like to know about. What can be the proper thing to do in this case as a referee? I think I can caution the player at the next stoppage because of unsporting behaviour. What else?

Thank you in advance!

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

If that happened to me we would have to do it over because the ball didn't hit the ground. No caution, no unhappy opponents and no restart. Back it comes and we do it again. Oh yeah, we'll look all screwface at the "Gentleman" in question. He won't attempt the same again.

Note this is something we can't do in Law and when we do it we are wrong. I hate it when that happens, but I hate it worse when someone lies to me...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I agree with Ref Fleischer - that ball was kicked before it hit the ground, wasn't it?

In addition to nasty looks given to B, before the repeat of the dropped ball I'll be sure to remind him that my eye is now on him. He'd better not twitch wrong. While he hasn't committed any cautionable offense yet, he's not going to get any leeway the rest of the game.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This happens more than you think. You cannot force any player from either team to do what they say they will. In the case of the dropped ball, when this has happened in the past I nod my head to Team B player and then go drop it to team A. In my old age I've come to realise there are as many cheats as there are sporting players. On the throw-in, if he's said this loud enough for the opponents to hear and they are reacting as if they're going to get the ball, I immediately whistle, yell "foul throw" and award a throw-in to the other team. This has happened more than once and the coach will say something to which I reply, "what difference does it make , your player was trying to throw it to the opponent's anyway". Have yet to have a player complain for getting caught lying to me. If I were to drop the ball, I'd do exactly what ref Fleischer says only when I go to collect the ball, I quickly drop it to the opponents rather than even give this liar another chance at it.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

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