Question Number: 21909

Character, Attitude and Control 9/7/2009

RE: competive Under 16

Josh of Brick, NJ United States asks...

at my sons game this weekend the keeper was carded for taking to long to release the ball ( no he was never issued a warning ) what is the proper restart? Ref gave the opposing team an IDK at the spot were play was stopped.
later in the game the ref stopped a corner kick from being taken because he felt the kicker was taking to long again no warning or motion for the kicker to hurry up, again gave the other team IDK from corner.
Again was the restart correct?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It rarely is wise for a referee to stop play the first time a keeper takes more than six seconds to release the ball as there are many other ways for the referee to be proactive. But, if a foul is called, the restart is an indirect free kick. (It is an indirect free kick foul.)

In the second instance, any misconduct that occurs when the ball is out of play does NOT change the restart. If a kicker before a corner kick is guilty of misconduct for delaying the restart of play, the correct restart is the corner kick. An indirect free kick would be appropriate when play is stopped for misconduct occurring while the ball is in play (if the misconduct is not also a direct free kick foul). If, as you state, the corner kick had not been taken, the referee erred in giving the other team an indirect free kick. The ball was out of play, and the restart does not change.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If what you tell us is true, you had a referee with his head stuck somewhere it shouldn't be.

Yes, the keeper is required to release the ball within 6 seconds but no sane referee would whistle this without some kind of warning and there's no reason for a card. The IFK is correct and it's taken where the ball was when the referee stopped play unless in the goal area where it comes out to the 6 yard line.

Second incident just as baffling. If the referee felt the taker of the corner kick was deliberately wasting time by delaying the restart of play,he may caution him and show the yellow card although he probably should have simply told the kicker to start play. The restart is just plain illegal. It has to be the original corner kick as play was never started

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In the first incident, the indirect free kick is correct but the caution is very harsh. As my colleagues suggest, the goalkeeper should be warned first.

As for the corner kick situation, that is completely incorrect and the referee has made the game protestable for misapplication of the Laws of the Game. If you are a referee yourself, you know the appropriate people to report this ref to; you can start with your assignor. This ref needs some further education before he really gets himself in trouble.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

I would strongly urge you to report this referee to the relevant authorities, as it sounds like he is in desperate need of reeducation.

As for the keeper incident, I can't imagine any reason whatsoever (unless it's for persistent infringement - or if there's subsequent dissent) for the keeper to be cautioned for not releasing the ball within 6 seconds. It's an indirect free kick from where the offence occurred, nothing more.

The referee has no obligation to warn the keeper and many won't, but I would argue it's simple proactive refereeing to warn the keeper.

As for the corner kick - again, a warning 'let's go!' is typical before the referee takes action for delaying the restart of play, though again not required.

However, the referee CANNOT change the restart for this offence - if the referee has an issue he should warn or caution the player, and the restart is still a corner kick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Carded you mean a yellow card was shown?
The keeper has 6 seconds to release a ball back into play and if he appears to be lingering a warning to get on with it is only sensible but not all referees are sensible. Regardless of why, given the fact the match referee called the foul it is an indfk from the point in the penalty area where the keeper is holding the ball. I could imagine the caution MUST be for dissent by the keeper as there is no reason to book a keeper given the opposing team now are gifted a scoring opportunity. PI (persistent Infringement) would require a repeated series of offences and you claim otherwise?

The indfk awarded for a corner kick taking too long?? Do I assume a caution show a yellow card occurred here as well? This is a miss application of law and protestable. The restart can not be changed for events that occur after play was stopped! Any usb conduct in that time is simply misconduct, cardable but the restart must be a corner kick!

Sounds as if you should document the circumstances and get the league or referee coordinator to review the laws with this match referee!

Cheers