The Ref Stop

Quick freekick

bennylcfc97

New Member
What would you give?
Playing on a 11v11 pitch that also has markings for 9v9 ( different coloured lines). Keeper handles the ball outside his area as he mistakes the lines for his box, very similar to the Bradford keeper vs Newport. Keeper drop the ball in the exact place he has picked it up after I’ve blown for the free kick about 25 yards out . Defenders and keeper are walking back to the goal, attacker shoots and scores. They’ve taken the free kick quickly without me blowing again.
I’m intrigued as to what other refs would do in this scenario.
 
The Ref Stop
What would you give?
Playing on a 11v11 pitch that also has markings for 9v9 ( different coloured lines). Keeper handles the ball outside his area as he mistakes the lines for his box, very similar to the Bradford keeper vs Newport. Keeper drop the ball in the exact place he has picked it up after I’ve blown for the free kick about 25 yards out . Defenders and keeper are walking back to the goal, attacker shoots and scores. They’ve taken the free kick quickly without me blowing again.
I’m intrigued as to what other refs would do in this scenario.
Depending on the in game situation, it’s almost certainly easier to pull it back and make them take the free kick again.

The attacking team will probably know the quick one is cheeky without asking you, won’t protest too hard hopefully.

You definitely lose the defending team for the rest of the match if you give the goal here.

If you can sell a USB or SPA yellow for the keeper then that could quell protests from the attacking team.
 
Depending on the in game situation, it’s almost certainly easier to pull it back and make them take the free kick again.

The attacking team will probably know the quick one is cheeky without asking you, won’t protest too hard hopefully.

You definitely lose the defending team for the rest of the match if you give the goal here.

If you can sell a USB or SPA yellow for the keeper then that could quell protests from the attacking team.
Defending team are 1-0 up and it’s early in the second half. Both teams have looked to take free kicks quickly in the first half and keep the game moving.
 
Defending team are 1-0 up and it’s early in the second half. Both teams have looked to take free kicks quickly in the first half and keep the game moving.
hmmm im calling this back then I think. Plenty of time and a chance to score from the retaken free kick, a whole second half with a raging defending team would be a huge pain.

Generally I don’t let teams take free kicks around the box quickly if I can avoid it, unless the keeper is in the goal.
 
Taking a quick free kick is fine but if its a shot into an empty net because GK and/or defenders aren't ready then I'm always bringing it back.
There's already enough gamesmanship, cheating, and unsporting behaviour prevalent in our sport without letting cheap shots (no pun) like that prosper.
 
Taking a quick free kick is fine but if its a shot into an empty net because GK and/or defenders aren't ready then I'm always bringing it back.
There's already enough gamesmanship, cheating, and unsporting behaviour prevalent in our sport without letting cheap shots (no pun) like that prosper.
Nothing in the Laws support that. A FK was legally taken. There is nothing unsporting or cheating about taking a FK the team is entitled to.
 
Nothing in the Laws support that. A FK was legally taken. There is nothing unsporting or cheating about taking a FK the team is entitled to.
I know that. But the OP asked what I would do. We've had this discussion on here before and nothing changes the notion (for me) that to pass the ball into an empty net because the other team are expected a wall set-up etc. is "unsporting".
 
In one of my first games (many years ago) a defender committed a foul in the arc. He left the ball, started to wander back. The striker placed the ball, said "OK?" to me and I said "yes". Scored. Uproar - "you didn't let us get a wall ready". Only goal of the game.
 
If a team asks me for a wall before the ball is kicked, I let them set one up. Otherwise, I don't care whether the FK is taken quickly or not. Our job is to ref the game how the laws stipulate, not to worry about one team being upset with us.
 
If a team asks me for a wall before the ball is kicked, I let them set one up. Otherwise, I don't care whether the FK is taken quickly or not. Our job is to ref the game how the laws stipulate, not to worry about one team being upset with us.
If you asked a group of players I bet the majority believe the defensive team have a right to set up a defensive wall & the restart must be delayed until they are ready 😁
 
If you asked a group of players I bet the majority believe the defensive team have a right to set up a defensive wall & the restart must be delayed until they are ready 😁
I am aware of that. But then the majority of them also think reckless = RC. So their opinion isn't always the right one.
 
If you asked a group of players I bet the majority believe the defensive team have a right to set up a defensive wall & the restart must be delayed until they are ready 😁
But you're then taking the advantage away from the attacking team. It's them that has been awarded the FK and should have the advantage of when and how they take it ! Perfectly legit goal in my opinion
 
I know that. But the OP asked what I would do. We've had this discussion on here before and nothing changes the notion (for me) that to pass the ball into an empty net because the other team are expected a wall set-up etc. is "unsporting".
I don't see what's unsporting about it ! They're playing within the law. The defenders needed to react and block the shot
 
I know that. But the OP asked what I would do. We've had this discussion on here before and nothing changes the notion (for me) that to pass the ball into an empty net because the other team are expected a wall set-up etc. is "unsporting".
The ball was moving, right? Every situation is different and can't be described, but most of the time the 'ceremony' of setting up the FK or the sanction process will have started in some way. A really clever and quick thinking FK may conceivably be OK. I wouldn't class that as unsporting. Scoring past the C5 would also be quite unlikely IMHO. Very rare to get the sight of an empty net, so I'll worry about it when it happens
 
I think there is a happy middle ground to be struck when it comes to free kicks near a penalty area.

If the attacking team are quick thinking enough to take the kick before the referee arrives at the scene then there's no reason to disallow the goal and to do so would unfairly disadvantage a team that has done nothing wrong. Just because the 'right to a wall' is one of the many myths in players' minds (eg any advantageous contact with the hand / arm is a Handball, can't have any part of your feet on the FOP at a throw in, can't be a DOGSO RC in the penalty area etc etc etc etc) there's no reason for us to reinforce the myths and play along with the ignorance / foolishness!

HOWEVER, once the referee arrives at the point of the FK, then taking charge of the situation and making it 'ceremonial' is simple and definitely best practice. Easily achieved by immediately standing between the ball and the goal and making it clear that the kick will be on the whistle.
 
I think there is a happy middle ground to be struck when it comes to free kicks near a penalty area.

If the attacking team are quick thinking enough to take the kick before the referee arrives at the scene then there's no reason to disallow the goal and to do so would unfairly disadvantage a team that has done nothing wrong. Just because the 'right to a wall' is one of the many myths in players' minds (eg any advantageous contact with the hand / arm is a Handball, can't have any part of your feet on the FOP at a throw in, can't be a DOGSO RC in the penalty area etc etc etc etc) there's no reason for us to reinforce the myths and play along with the ignorance / foolishness!

HOWEVER, once the referee arrives at the point of the FK, then taking charge of the situation and making it 'ceremonial' is simple and definitely best practice. Easily achieved by immediately standing between the ball and the goal and making it clear that the kick will be on the whistle.
Yeah, completely agree with that. If they go before I get there that is fine, once I'm there they can only take it when I am ready.
 
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