Question Number: 30404

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/11/2016

RE: Intermediate Under 13

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 30399

Under the new FIFA laws effective June, 2016, Law 3 now says a referee can award a DFK if a team official interferes with play. If a coach participated in this ruse, by yelling for another player to take the corner kick, could this be considered interfering with play? This assumes, of course, that you can tell that the coach is trying to deceive the other team.
Thank you,

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Interference as mentioned in the Laws refers to physical interference not verbal. The explanation given by IFAB was that there is a growing problem of substitutes/team officials entering the field to interfere with play or an opponent, e.g. stopping a goal. This is clearly 'unfair' and a direct free kick (or penalty kick if in own penalty area) is more appropriate.
In the ruse situation I just do not allow it. It is a retake for me. As it us misconduct by the coach he gets spoken to.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Don't forget Phil, the coach's verbal interference happened before the ball was in play on the trick corner kick. I haven't read the New Laws through, but I don't think they are changing any more of the very few situations where a restart changes because of something that happens when the ball is not in play.