Question Number: 15618

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 5/27/2007

RE: Recreational Under 14

James Cappellucci of Plymouth, MA USA asks...

A Ref called our opponent off-sides, but did not see our defender deep in our end. The opposing coach pointed this out when the whistle blew, and the ref acknoleged his error. He gave a free indirect kick which resulted in a goal a few minutes later by another opponent.

I agree that the opponent should have had possession after he corrected the call, but should the ref have awarded a free kick, or should it have been a drop ball or just start play from where the ball was whan the ref blew the whistle?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi James,
While I dislike coaches trying to show up or correct a referee, as a coach myself I can understand the desire to want to politely point out the impossibility of a wrong call . Not to undermine the power or authority of the referee I still could call out to my captain, ok guys tough break, the referee did not see the 2nd last opponent lurking back there talking with the keeper keeping you onside! Here we give the referee an out without saying directly you goofed!

Still we must remember the decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final.
The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match

A referee cannot award your opponents a free kick because he realized they should not be given one against them. To do so is a protestable situation as the restart is NOT withing the laws of the game

IF< a referee acknowledges such an error the only restart correct in law is a drop ball.
The team in attack might be thwarted by such a faux pau but at least an unfair restart of indfk against and a loss of total possession is not implemented

As a team concept, if you recognize your opponent's had ball possession and only through such events as this like a referee error or or a throw in restart through a deliberate kick out in certain injury stoppages.

If ball possession was given up or unfairly taken away you could offer to return the ball to them at the drop.

Fair play dictates teams can consider such actions as meritorious usually if both teams consider it as a reciprocal event. At the drop or throw you direct the ball back downfield towards their keeper or out into touch for a throw in allowing them to regain uncontested possession away from a scoring area before defending. It is risky because it is NOT REQUIRED nor can a referee make you do so. A referee might offer it as an option to educate but if he demanded it it is a protest able event contrary to law as it is a tactical decision based on certain unwritten moral codes.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

As you suggest, a dropped ball is the ONLY proper restart if events transpired as you describe. Had I been the center referee I'd have conferred with my AR and if the AR saw the defender I'd have changed the call. The problem with listeninmg to coaches is a lot can transpire between the time the flag is raised until the coach is heard. Where was the defender at the moment the ball was played by a teammate? As a center, it's easy to not keep up with the defenders as offside is the AR's call. It's very rare an AR in position will miss a defender obviously keeping the attack onside. I would not change a call based on what a coach thought he or she saw.