Question Number: 22822

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/14/2010

RE: 7 Under 19

Dennis Hume of Colchester, Essex UK asks...

This question is a follow up to question 103958

The ball was in the middle of four players (two from each side) one player call 'MINE' this caused the other three players to stop attacking the ball, so I stopped the game a awarded an indirect free kick against the player. But after the game both managers questioned the free kick Was I right?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I think you out thought yourself here. The player was communicating with his teammates and is acceptable. If you did feel that he had violated unsporting behavior, then you should have also issued a card. According to law 12, you have to issue a caution or sendoff if you wish to call an IFK here.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Dennis, if you felt, as indicated, that the player distracted an opponent then your decision was correct to give an indirect free kick (IDFK) against him. If that was your decision then you must also do what it says in the Additional Instructions and Guidelines for Referees, which is caution the player. You cannot give an IDFK for distracting and not caution and show the yellow card. There are eleven examples for unsporting behaviour. The tenth example is: verbally distracts an opponent during play or at a restart.

Be careful. There is a lot of chatter out there, such as: MY BALL, LEAVE IT, PASS, HOLD, SWITCH and all of this is just fine as long it does not distract the opponents.

Just for the record, I think the managers were barking up the wrong tree. You had all the right in the world to make the call, but the caution was missing. I bet the managers did not point that out to you!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Hume
You got part of the process correct and unfortunately added to the myth that now plagues the game. Communication between team mates is allowed and it should not be penalised. However if a player verbally distracts an opponent for unsporting reasons that is not allowed.
If you decided that the player by shouting 'Mine' verbally distracted both opponents then that was a cautionable offence. You should have cautioned the player for his call and the restart is an IDFK. The referee cannot award an IDFK on its own. The reason many refs go with the IDFK is that there is a myth in the game that a player must use his name in communicating with team mates and to not use a name is just a technical infringement punishable by an IDFK. That is not the case and it is incorrect in Law.
When a name is not used player look for this free kick with comments like 'No Name Ref' and players say "Put a name on it" to ensure that an IDFK is not awarded. Now ask yourself did the shout of' Mine' deserve a caution because that is the test of the distraction/deception. No caution No IDFK.
If a player shouted 'Leave it' at an opponent with the sole intention that his opponent does not play the ball that is clearly distraction/deception with the player cautioned and an IDFK restart.
If a player shouted ARGHHH at an opponent jumping for the ball that would also be cautionable and an IDFK. If a player shouted 'MISS IT' at a penalty taker that again would be a cautionable offence and if a goal was not scored it would be a retake.
If a team mate shouted to a team mate 'Leave it' 'Mine' and it is clear that the shout was not a distraction or deception then play should be allowed to continue.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You made the decision that this player had unfairly distracted and disadvantaged an opponent. That is misconduct, unsporting behavior. You cannot arbitrarily just decide to award a free kick to the opponents. You must first caution and show the yellow card. There is no indirect free kick foul known as verbally distracting an opponent. You have to punish this as misconduct or let play continue