Recent content by Russell Jones

It would certainly be useful to have more definitive guidance regarding at what point the tightness of the angle of a one on one shot towards goal takes the chance from 'Obvious' to 'Possible'

Had the ball been kicked by an opponent, I'd have seen a case for an unnatural position handball to be given here. However, given that it was blasted towards her from close range by a team mate then general guidance would suggest no offence here.

Haven't watched this specific game. But worth a general observation about timing for subs post the new law introduction. Based on the dozen or so Step 2 games I've been involved in so far, the average time delay for a typical one person sub is now around the thirty second mark (that was always...

In Law, a team official who enters the FOP to confront a referee at HT or FT should receive a Red Card. Much like with dissent and OFFINABUS, you get to decide at what point your threshold for 'confrontation' has been reached. Personally, my threshold is much lower at HT than FT because there...

Probably BOTH crystal clear and carelessly drafted! I’ve no idea if they’ve considered all the implications. But in many ways it’s very simple for players … if they don’t wish to run any risks then they simply need to pick up the ball and place it where they intend to kick it from. Not 🚀...

Looking forward to this empathy being on show if I'm lucky enough to line for you later this season ... ;) :D

The first paragraph of the guidance is crystal clear about the point at which the goal kick has been taken and the ball is in play. After that point, all the regular rules apply, be that a handball leading to either a penalty or IFK (if goalkeeper), or a 'standard' second touch that results in...

The potential handling once the ball is put into play from a goal kick is obviously the main focus of the guidance above. However, the first paragraph of the guidance does also pretty much force a referee (certainly within the English NLS) to give a double touch IFK if the keeper (or another...

Especially in light of the added consideration this season (number of relevant attackers) I think this is reasonable as DOGSO. If Blue 4 comes across to try and challenge Red 15 then this leaves Red 9 unmarked

Understand where you are coming from. When I'm acting as an AR at higher levels, players use their hands to ensure the placement of the ball is as perfect as possible. If I was a lone referee on a grassroots game and a player used his foot to do the same, then from 30 metres away, with my...

To be clear, if I believe that a free kick anywhere on the pitch has been correctly taken from a good enough approximation of the correct location, then the ball is in play and what will be will be. I was referring to those occasions where the ball is kicked from obviously the wrong location to...

For restarts being taken from anywhere outside of the goal areas, referees can legitimately choose to decide whether any kick of the ball has occurred from the correct location of the free kick. That option is not appropriate for restarts within the goal area as the allowed kick location is...

In the absence of any contrary guidance from the FA, I’d suggest English referees should simply follow law on all other kick restarts. The most obvious example being that free kick restarts from within the goal area should be treated exactly the same as the advice recently given for goal kicks.

1) Yes, if you believe there is an advantage to the non offending team in doing so 2) No, specifically mentioned in Law as a mandatory retake I believe

You're right. For simplicity, I find it easier to consider 'Challenging for the Ball' along with 'Playing the Ball' but it is the easiest clause in Opponent Interference. I'm totally with you that hindsight makes everything far easier! Getting decisions correct on ANY field is tricky...