Question Number: 29911

Law 13 - Free Kicks 11/11/2015

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Hello, my question is about building the wall rules.

Hypothetical situation: Team A takes the free kick. Players from this team build a wall in place (9,15 m), where normally builds the wall team B.

Is it prohibited? :-) Or, what is permitted and what is prohibited for team A and for team B in this situations? What is the procedure? Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Petr
The laws say that opponent should retreat 10 yards or 9.15m from the ball at a free kick. Now what has developed over the years is the practise of *building* a wall by defenders or players moving to slow down the restart. This has resulted in the kicking team now asking for 10 yards in which case the kick restarts on the whistle when all the conditions are correct and to the referees satisfaction.
Now if the kicker wants to forgo the requirement of 10 yards then he take what is called a quick free kick in which case he must accept the outcome of the kick unless of course the defender/s moves towards the ball to prevent that.
Also in the modern game teams have specialist kickers who want everything set up which includes ball placement and the defensive wall back 10 yards before the kick is taken. That kicker believes that he has a good opportunity to get the shot on target in such situations so he will wait for the referee to move every player back.
It has now become so common place that players as a matter of rote move in front of the ball and wait for the referee to move them back on every free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A wall is not required. For example, if the team elects to take a quick free kick (and if the ref has no reason to stop them from doing so) they don't wait for a wall to be formed.

Whoever legally gets to a spot on the field has the right to be there. They cannot be forced to move just because the opponents want to be there instead. So if a team is quick about getting set up at 10 yards on their own kick, the defenders can't do anything about it.

Well, they can form their wall in front of the attackers, less than 10 yards, and then complain that they don't know exactly how far away 10 yards is if the ref makes them move. Or maybe the ref doesn't know where 10 yards is, and he allows the defenders to be there. Or maybe the attackers over-estimate the 10 yards, and give their opponents room to set up a wall. Lots of "if's" there - not sure it would be wise for a team to rely on this as a strategy.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Petr,
the wall itself has no basis in law other than the requirement the opposition withdraw 1o yards from the point of the restart so that is where a lineup of players will occur. The tactical idea for the attackers to get there first or insert some members into that lineup of defenders comprising the defensive wall is one that can cause some headaches for a referee if the pushing and shoving get out of hand. Once these interactions occur, failure to intercede could create actionable caution or send off situations... a referee ...MIGHT.. be forced into making the free kick ceremonial and will instruct ALL Players to WAIT for the whistle! Here time will be used to sort out the jostling, move the wall and ensure if attackers are in close proximity or situated within the wall the referee likely admonishes all to cool it to settle things down,

The team with the FREE kick restart optimal word here is ...Free... are entitled to go when THEY are ready, that includes going right away. The defenders have absolutely NO rights except for the referee not to interfere with them. Attackers are not required to ask for ten yards,the defenders, simply MUST comply and withdraw 10 yards!! However, if the attacker chooses to take a free kick prior to the opposition being ten yds.away that is a choice! If the ball is intercepted once it is kicked into play too bad, so sad, play will continue with no restart

I should note 10 yards is the MINIMUM distance defenders must withdraw (except when an INDFK against is less than ten yards but minimum 6 yards in front of goal. The intro of foam and the desire to turn most free kicks into ceremonial restarts is more by design than tradition.
Cheers

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

See Question: 29982