The Ref Stop

8 second law example

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The Ref Stop
Attended an EFL league 2 game yesterday, didn’t even notice the referee commence a countdown, however both keepers were quite proactive at getting the ball back in play quickly.

On another time wasting note the away team took an absolute age on every attacking throw-in in the final third….defender strolled up from a full back position to take a long throw-in (invariably from 10m) nearer the goal than it should have been🫣) then took an age to choose the right ball from the multi ball option (like a Wimbledon tennis player🤣) then took an age getting himself set , if the referee had added all the time lost I doubt I would have been home in time for MOTD🤣🤣
 
That was certainly the guidance given on the county new laws update we were given last week.
Guidance from FA on how to practically apply the law.
And herein lies the problem.

They release a law. Then individual associations (national rather than county) decide on how to apply it, thus leading to confusion and inconsistencies.

I completely agree with the count not starting until people have stopped being near the goalkeeper. If it was up to me, I’d say the count starts once everyone is outside the penalty area. But is the people who think this stuff up either aren’t bothered or aren’t the brightest, we end up with ‘guidance’.

And we wonder why fans get confused with law.
 
The counter on the clip was doctored to make the 8 exactly.
It was much closer to 9 seconds from the moment there was no spurs players in the frame to whistle. But that's close enough. It's not exact science. I think this clip will make a really good training clip.

@Runner Ref I don't think anyone is disputing the wording of the law is rubbish.
 
The counter on the clip was doctored to make the 8 exactly.
It was much closer to 9 seconds from the moment there was no spurs players in the frame to whistle. But that's close enough. It's not exact science. I think this clip will make a really good training clip.

@Runner Ref I don't think anyone is disputing the wording of the law is rubbish.
My point is, we’re now refereeing to guidance rather than law. If we’re going to go off that, what’s the point in bothering with law?

@JamesL said the referee was correct to start the count when he did. According to the section of law around the goalkeeper having control, no he wasn’t.

But according to guidance that tends to get released to officials only, or or dug deep down that anyone else will struggle to see, it was correct
 
I don’t see the problem with applying this law using common sense. A bit of communication wouldn’t go a miss either. I had a keeper yesterday who said look I can’t release there is a striker there and I simple shouted so that everyone could hear, I am not able to start the timer striker until you get out of the way’
 
I don’t see the problem with applying this law using common sense. A bit of communication wouldn’t go a miss either. I had a keeper yesterday who said look I can’t release there is a striker there and I simple shouted so that everyone could hear, I am not able to start the timer striker until you get out of the way’
Common sense is all well and good, but it leads to inconsistencies and where do you stop?

We see offside given for 0.5mm offside. In reality, has that made a difference? No. Should we then use common sense and allow any disallowed goals for this?
 
Some laws are black and white some aren’t. Offside is black and white, you’re either offside or you’re not. This very law states that it is the referees interpretation as to when the goalkeeper is in control of the ball.

It may be inconsistent across games, lots of laws are but for me as long as I am consistent during a game - I’m content with that.
 
Some laws are black and white some aren’t. Offside is black and white, you’re either offside or you’re not. This very law states that it is the referees interpretation as to when the goalkeeper is in control of the ball.

It may be inconsistent across games, lots of laws are but for me as long as I am consistent during a game - I’m content with that.
Read the thread (and previous). Law has a specific definition of when the goalkeeper has control. That is in black and white. The law and guidance around the 8 seconds then completely contradicts this.

This is the issue
 
Read the thread (and previous). Law has a specific definition of when the goalkeeper has control. That is in black and white. The law and guidance around the 8 seconds then completely contradicts this.

This is the issue

I have read the thread. You are correct the law does have a specific definition. It also states ‘the referee will decide when the goalkeeper has control of the ball’.
 
Some laws are black and white some aren’t. Offside is black and white, you’re either offside or you’re not. This very law states that it is the referees interpretation as to when the goalkeeper is in control of the ball.

It may be inconsistent across games, lots of laws are but for me as long as I am consistent during a game - I’m content with that.
Exactly that, offside is one of the few decisions in football that is black and white, you are either onside or offside and cannot be both.

Unfortunately the law has been worded badly by conflicting when a keeper is in control of the ball and when they are in a position to release it. As it is written a keeper could be deemed to be in control but with an attacker mirroring their every move, in which case the countdown obviously shouldn't have started. Hence why guidance from national associations has been issued.
 
I have read the thread. You are correct the law does have a specific definition. It also states ‘the referee will decide when the goalkeeper has control of the ball’.
Yes, based on the 3 criteria specified in the laws. All 3 were met almost as soon as the goalkeeper got the call. Nowhere does it mention waiting for players nearby to leave. This is guidance, not law.
 
Yes, based on the 3 criteria specified in the laws. All 3 were met almost as soon as the goalkeeper got the call. Nowhere does it mention waiting for players nearby to leave. This is guidance, not law.

By that same token - surely if a player is preventing the release of the ball from the goalkeeper, this then comes into law 12 and an indirect free kick is awarded - therefore the 8 second count does not begin.
 
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