Question Number: 28063

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 12/15/2013

RE: All Levels Other

Gary Hustis of Rochester, NY USA asks...

I recently had a lively discussion on the authority of the referee when administering a drop ball after a stoppage for an injury. We were in agreement that the sporting thing to do was for the team who did not have possession at the time of the whistle to be the only participant in the drop ball and to play the ball back to the opposing defense or goalkeeper. Where we differ is who gets to decide that this action should (or would) be taken. He contends that the referee has the authority to decide how the restart will be taken and who will participate by announcing to the coaches & players "This is what we are going to do, I will drop the ball and the red team will kick it back to the white team goalkeeper". He goes on to tell me that he has never had an argument from any coach or player when he has imposed this. I easily concede that he probably never will get an argument and if I were the coach of one of the teams, I wouldnt say anything either.
However my contention is that the technical interpretation of the laws (including the advice to referees) is that the referee has no authority to dictate who does or does not participate in a drop ball. So I expressed to him that in this restart that you must adhere to that interpretation. I tell him that my tact is through encouragement and suggestion (and friendly admonishment where needed) to encourage this pass back so that I would not overstep my authority. Since I believe it is up to the coaches and players to be good sportsmen/woman I want them to decide to do so.
My suggestions differ depending on the age and level of play. In a U19 premier game I probably wont say anything as they generally understand the concept and dont need any interference from the ref. In a U12 game Id probably ask the coach from far enough away that he would have to express his wishes loudly enough for all to hear. Generally a coach wont yell onto the field that he wants to be unsporting.
So my question is for you to comment on each of our positions on handling this drop ball.
Thanks
Gary Hustis

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Gary,

You're correct that the laws do not allow a referee to restrict one team from participating in the drop ball. It is the duty of the referee to administer the laws, not to enforce his notion of sporting behaviour.

I have no doubt that your colleague has had no problems doing it this way, but he is stepping outside his authority in doing so.

Laws can be bent but not broken - meaning that there are ways a referee can manipulate this restart without actually preventing on team from participating.

One method you can use is to drop the ball before the other team has the opportunity to decide if they want to be involved. If the ball was previously in the possession of the blue team, and you have a blue player standing nearby and the red team haven't decided what to do, then you can just drop the ball and get on with it.

No harm in making suggestions, if if the players are trying to work it out between them the best way to do a sporting restart you can assist them there, but the only time the referee can fully use his power to intervene is when a team has engaged in misleading behaviour - e.g. promised to return the ball, but created an attack with it instead.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Gary
The Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees in Law 8 tells the referee what should happen at a dropped ball and it is explicit in black and white that, ''The referee cannot decide who may or may not contest a dropped ball.'' It cannot be any clearer than that.
As the vast majority of dropped balls are 'fair play' type restarts he is unlikely to have a had problem about his advice as to what should happen at the dropped ball. Just because that has happened does not mean it is correct. We have all been there where the opposing team want to give the ball back so the referee facilitates that by dropping the ball for say the goalkeeper to pick the ball up or for one player to kick the ball back etc.
There have been games though recently where I have had contested dropped balls and that is what the Laws allows for. In those situations the team is not going going to be very happy with the referee deciding that the DB is not going to be contested or instructing a team what to do at a restart.
By all means know what is going to happen along with both teams and to facilitate the 'fair play' element but that is as far as it goes.