There are times when the referee can interfere with play. While everyone probably knows that we should make every attempt not to interfere with play, you need to recognize when you clearly have and address the situation. Here's the situation that brings this up... My son was playing center back in his team's game Saturday evening. Midway through the second half with the game tied 1-1, he was at midfield in the center circle. A ball was played from the opponents defending third up to a striker that he was near. As the ball was played to this striker, a midfielder was making a run. He recognized the danger of the situation and made a strong play on the ball, committing a foul in the process. As soon as the whistle was blown, he turned to get back into a deep defensive position as his primary responsibility in this game was as sweep. The referee called out to him by calling his number. He knew that the foul he'd just committed was tactical in nature and he might be receiving a card, so he stopped and turned back to the referee. As the referee was still moving toward him, the opponent quick started playing the ball past him with a guy already running on. He could not recover and they scored on the resulting breakaway. He went back to the referee and said that if you are going to stop him from getting in position, he has to hold up the restart. The referee said that the other team has a right to restart quickly. He said that's true, but once you've stopped me from getting in position, you've taken control of the situation. You can't keep me from getting in position and then let them start quickly. It seems to me that my son was right in this situation -- the referee should have not allowed the quick restart. What do you guys think?
The referee's error was not stopping play by informing the other team to wait for his whistle. The only thing he could do once the ball was put in play was to try to sell the fact that he was issuing a caution and play would restart when he was done. Hopefully a mentor might have talking to this ref after the match and helped him with options in this situation. Scott
Referee was not readyt o restart Come on Kev the referee is always right even if we think he was wrong. ;o) The referee could allow the quick restart but he must give his permission. If the referee is initiating action towards a player be it even a verbal warning then he is NOT prepared to restart. The communication of the referee by calling out the # of the player and indicating the need to have a talk would not be in keeping with the advantage that a quick start could achieve. The mere fact that a referee only wanted to say "Watch it buddy!" or even display a card does not mean he should deprive the right for the other team's quick restart. Perhaps the restart saved your son a caution. Although the caution is better than the goal methinks. I think it unfortuate but as a defender your son never heard the referee indicate the restart was being delayed. When he heard his number he could have easily backed into position saying Yes sir? Unless the command was to come to the referee? Which is inferred but not stated so as a defender I would be thinking stop the attack first. Unless you see the referee actually indicate the restart is not to be taken consider it a possibility. However when all is said and done the referee should have seen the quick restart possibilities and acted accordingly. The same can be said for your son. After all he did foul with the intent of stopping the attack and as a defending team they have no rights to do so.
I disagree with Grizzly here. If the referee is taking care of game administration before the next restart, that restart must be held up. You can't be in the middle of delivering a caution and have the team perform a quick kick anymore so than if you were changing the game ball or performing a substitution. There are simply certain instances where the game may not be started quickly, and this instance happens to be one of them. The referee should have blown the whistle and called the kick back the moment he realized it was in play. Of course, he should have pointed to his whistle and indicated not to start without his signal to begin with. There are more pressing matters to attend to than the quick restart of the game.
Actually Statesman we are not in disagreement. Not totally anyway. ;o) I raised the spector of the referee's realization the quick restart was the best for the game versus the NEED to deal with the transgression. I have called out "#3 be careful "as the restart begins as enough. If I was convinced the need was great that play MUST be stopped I would say so just as you pointed out. While the mechanics of the referee may have been poor they do not trangress the laws. I have allowed a yellow card tackle to go unpunished on a very simillar tackle as the team's desire to restart was apparant and the need to card was not critical to the games management. A goal resulted. The player who would have recieved the caution got a break and I did say "we will talk # 7" as the restart commenced. If as referee we do not give a signal to restart than the restart is not valid if we wish it so. So yes the referee could have brought the restart back. As I indicated if the referee was wanting to talk or caution Kev's son and was doing so then no restart should be permitted as he is not showing it as ok to do so. As to pressing matters countinung attacking play leading to a goal is fairly pressing. Kev's and the son's concern was it achieved unfairly? Perhaps the referee inadvertantly played a part and I agree it is infered more than stated Well the tackle was unfair and as a referee we seek to see it readdressed in the most appropriate manner. Granted if we are reaching into the pocket for the book and watching the perp instead of the restart location we are demonstrating as a referee we will be delaying this restart to caution as we are not signalling ok go ahead. In the senario described we have a number called out. Is that sufficent NOT to allow a restart? Personally in my opinion no it is not. Knowing you are in trouble for what you did? Does that prevent a restart? No it does not. Does the referee have the right to allow the restart? Yes he does. I still say like a boxer keep defending at all times. Because even if a referee calls you over and shows the card and books you the restart could be right after and you still could be out of position.
In my opinion, the referee blew this one. This ranks right up there with a referee pointing the wrong way, waiting on the defense to push up, then allowing the other team to take a quick restart after he corrects his dyslexia. If I'd been in the center, I hope I would have recognized that I forgot to tell the attacking team to hold the restart and would have blown play dead, backed them up, and started again once the defense had time to reset from my request to come to me.