Question Number: 25054

Law 17 - Corner Kick 6/3/2011

RE: Competitive Adult

Eamonn of Dublin, Ireland asks...

This question is a follow up to question 888

What happens after a throw in / corner kick is given and nobody goes to take it. If everyone just stays were they are and no player volunteers to take it what can the referee do??

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Eamonn
He instruct the captain of the team that is taking the corner to get on with it. I personally would show that I have stopped my watch and that any time wasting will be added on. If no one is prepared to take it then the captain is warned that the time wasting is unacceptable and that the game could be abandoned.
In addition, in any game that there is excessive time wasting the referee should certainly show that the appropriate time has been addded on. If the referee can identify any player that is delaying the restart then a caution should be shown.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee has lots of options. She first needs to understand: 'Why isn't the team restarting the match?'

Is someone injured or is a team ready to make a substitution?
Look around.

Is the team in the lead trying to delay the restart of play?
Warn or caution. Announce you are adding time.

Is the team who is losing acting tired, bored, or ready for the match to end, and no one from either team cares?
Your prematch preparation should include knowing whether the team in the lead cares how many goals are scored. If the players don't care to restart the match, let the clock run.

Is there a problem somewhere else on the field?
Look around.

Players, particularly adult players, give lots of clues about why they do things. The wise referee observes and adjusts.