View Full Version : Retake of free kick
EJDad
19 Jul 2006, 11:21 PM
In the Revolution/Celtic game tonight the Revs had a free kick @ 10 yards outside the Celtic penalty area. The CR was adamant about the distance, stopping to step players back who had taken a (small) step forward after he placed the wall where he wanted. Needless to say, a Celtic player went forward as the Rev player approached the ball, blocked the kick and a rekick was called for. Here is my question- Isn't the retake to be taken from the same spot as the original kick? For the first kick the ball was placed so that the wall was set on the penalty area line. For the retake the ball was placed to put the wall a good 3-4 yards behind that line. It made me think for a second that they had put the "if you encroach we will move the kick closer" rule in to use. It may have been error but it seemed so clear with the lines on the field and the Celtic players were clearly pointing it out. Am I missing something?
macheath
20 Jul 2006, 09:21 AM
In the Revolution/Celtic game tonight the Revs had a free kick @ 10 yards outside the Celtic penalty area. The CR was adamant about the distance, stopping to step players back who had taken a (small) step forward after he placed the wall where he wanted. Needless to say, a Celtic player went forward as the Rev player approached the ball, blocked the kick and a rekick was called for. Here is my question- Isn't the retake to be taken from the same spot as the original kick? For the first kick the ball was placed so that the wall was set on the penalty area line. For the retake the ball was placed to put the wall a good 3-4 yards behind that line. It made me think for a second that they had put the "if you encroach we will move the kick closer" rule in to use. It may have been error but it seemed so clear with the lines on the field and the Celtic players were clearly pointing it out. Am I missing something?
Was the ball spotted closer on the second one, or did the ref move the wall back further to be sure of the distance? The latter technique has been experimented with on retakes.
Was the ball spotted closer on the second one, or did the ref move the wall back further to be sure of the distance? The latter technique has been experimented with on retakes.
The wall was set back further. The first wall was about 8 yards from the ball (double the top of the arc); the second wall made it to 10. :)
EJDad
20 Jul 2006, 10:13 AM
Was the ball spotted closer on the second one, or did the ref move the wall back further to be sure of the distance? The latter technique has been experimented with on retakes.
It appeared the ball was spotted closer but hard to tell. The original wall was definitely in the 8-10 yard range and the second wall was a good 5-6 yards further back. I don't think it was a case of being generous the first time and then more strict the second time. If the ball was placed in the same spot the second wall was a good 15 yards from that spot. Is this something they would do in a friendly like this? I was assuming that he placed ( or allowed the to be placed ) the ball closer on the restart which did not seem right to me.
EJD, I think that you are over-estimating the distances involved. The perspective from your seat may have a lot to do with the distance estimation, too.
Both times the ball was placed about twice the arc from the top of the PA. The top of the arc is 4 yards, so the ball was only 8 yards from the PA. Knowing the ref, I was surprised that he had allowed the wall to be set so near on the first attempt.
The first wall was on the 18. The second was 2 yards inside.
Statesman
20 Jul 2006, 12:35 PM
Did the referee caution the Celtic player for failing to respect the distance?
Did the referee caution the Celtic player for failing to respect the distance?No. Another surprise.
Without benefit of replay, I was wondering whether the encrouching player had been one of the two Celtic players who had been cautioned earlier. Or maybe the Rev took the kick before the ref had signaled ready, hence, just set the wall right and re-kick. ???
Statesman
20 Jul 2006, 01:33 PM
That's very odd. Regardless of previous infringements, you can't really excuse a player running in and blocking a free kick for any reason. I can't really think of a time you wouldn't caution a player, even a second caution, for that type of an offense.
jkc313
20 Jul 2006, 08:49 PM
That's very odd. Regardless of previous infringements, you can't really excuse a player running in and blocking a free kick for any reason. I can't really think of a time you wouldn't caution a player, even a second caution, for that type of an offense.
Agree with Statesman. Should have been a caution. As far as the wall being reset further back the second time, this is a tactic many referees use to encourage opponents to give the 10 yards. I've heard of some referees that will set the wall a full 15 yards the second time. Perhaps that's what this referee was doing
What's with all this "shoulda been a caution" stuff? Without speaking to the referee or viewing a tape of the match to listen for the whistle, how do we know that the re-kick wasn't because of the Revs kicking too soon?
The second wall was barely 10 yards, not 15 as some have suggested.
Dr Jay
21 Jul 2006, 12:09 PM
What's with all this "shoulda been a caution" stuff? Without speaking to the referee or viewing a tape of the match to listen for the whistle, how do we know that the re-kick wasn't because of the Revs kicking too soon?
The second wall was barely 10 yards, not 15 as some have suggested.
I was at the game and found this situation curious as well.
As the first wall was setting up, my son turned to me and said "that wall is only 6-7 yards back". It did not appear that the center actually stepped off the yards. The first kick hit the wall.
I believe the second kick was allowed due to encroachment. When the yellow card was not given, I was surprised.
The center then marched off a full and generous ten and had the kick retaken.
Other than this, I thought he did a great job (the near linesman, on the other hand, had a bit of shocker). Its often tough to center these professional friendly games, especially when one team has chip on their shoulders.
I know this center well, he's probably reffed 3 dozen of my kids games down through the years. He's one of the better local refs but at the high school/youth level he often overcalls fouls.
soccertim
24 Jul 2006, 12:45 PM
I was actually listening to this on the radio (had to pick someone up at the airport, and was surprised to find it being broadcast...). The announcers said that the wall was well short of 10 yards. The Revs were asking for the wall to be moved back, but the ref had them take the kick. When the ball hit an opponent, the ref blew his whistle, moved the wall back to 10 yards, and had them retake the kick. They spent the next few minutes trying to figure out why the ref didn't just move the wall back before the original kick. Sounded pretty odd at the time...