Can anyone give me a quick history of the 15 yard wall, and where it's been used? I'm thinking of instances where the wall has encroached on a free kick, and the ref either places the free kick closer to goal or moves the wall back an additional five yards. What are the variations on this experiment, where have they been tried and with what success? Thanks for your help.
The LOTG only says players must be 'no less than' 10 yards from the kicker. I have seen many referees move players back further in different circumstances, for example failing to respect the 10 yards.
I know they're doing it in the EPL, not sure about anywhere else. The ball is placed 5 yards closer if the call is excessively challenged or if the wall fails to immediately cede 10 yards. Seems to have worked pretty well, IMO.
What I am talking about is different to the EPl. The EPL is conducting an experiment whereby free kicks are advanced 10 yards in the case of defenders failing to cede the required distance. This practice will continue for the remainder of this season and probably the next. The proposal to change the Laws to reflect this experiment was put the IFAB in February, but it was rejected. It is worth noting that this experiment only applies to the EPL and should not be used by referees in any other matches. It is not part of the LOTG. Cheers, C.
Before the USA Women's professional league was formed, there was a Women's A league that used a 15 yard distance from the ball when a free kick was awarded within 35 yards of the goal line. This league also allowed throw-in or kick-in from that same distance.
Not sure what you mean by experiment but this is a tactic used by many referees when dealing with a team refusing to give the 10 yards. They move them back 15 and tell them next time it'll be 20. Works quite well.
The USL used some of these gimmicks during the early to mid 90's as well. Because of the kick-ins, defenders would just foul a player while challenging near the touchline because the restart was the same. There was also a bizarre 35 yard live breakaway after a set number of fouls each half...
I'd guess the 15-yard wall was a response to refs' unwillingness to enforce the 10-yard one. It's a joke, you can see it every day on Fox Sports World. My solution is simple: make it a FOUL to be STRUCK with the ball closer than 10 yards on a freekick. Forget about carding guys for infringing--refs have shown an utter contempt for that rule it NEVER happens. But being struck within 10 yards is like a handball--everyone can see it. You run at the kicker you take your chances; You move before the ball is touched, you take your chances. If you're both fewer than 10 yards from the spot and in the penalty area--pk. That, finally, permit a free kick without infringement.
See here's my point: if the US does it, it's some crazy American gimmick which keeps the real fans away. If the EPL does it, nobody says boo. I'm okay with MLS discarding overtime in order to keep in step with the rest of the world. But with short-lived silver goals and golden goals and fifteen yard walls the "caretakers of the game" have shown they're just as prone to gimmicks.