Question Number: 23463

Law 17 - Corner Kick 6/12/2010

RE: Rec Under 17

Tim Siow of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada asks...

Hi refs; as a starter, I appreciate the answer to my earlier question regarding the offside rule. Here's another one that's been puzzling me.

Recently, while looking up footballing tactics, I noticed a very tricky/clever corner kick taken by Manchester United (Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs), against Chelsea.

During the match, Manchester United was awarded with a free kick, in which Rooney went to take the kick. He quickly set the ball in position (on the corner arc) and rolled it away, towards Ryan Giggs, who was slowly jogging up to it. As soon as Giggs arrived, he sprinted towards the net, crossed it in, and gave a nice assist to Cristiano Ronaldo's header.

My question: Is it legal to make a move like that, making an illusion to 'switch' corner takers, then quickly taking advantage of the bluff?

Here is a direct source to video footage of this kick: http://www.soccer-training-info.com/trick_corner_kick.asp

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The trick corner play is legal, if it is done correctly. That means the ball is set, the first player clearly kicks it so it moves position (not just a tap that makes it wobble), and the second player then 'receives' the ball and dribbles away.

The coach can take no part in the play. Suppose Capello yelled out, 'Wayne, I want Ryan to take it!' Coaches are limited to tactical instructions only. If that was a tactical instruction, then everyone should consider that Giggs will be taking the kick. If it was not intended to be a tactical instruction, then the coach has interfered with the game in trying to deceive the opponents, and should be dismissed from the field.

The problem with such a trick play is that the players could be too tricky - they might just fool the referee along with the opponents. If that is the case, the referee would have missed the kick by Rooney and would consider Giggs to be taking the kick, and would call an IFK for the other team for second-touch.

Another problem is that Rooney has now demonstrated that what looks like repositioning the ball is really the kick that puts the ball into play. So when he next takes a free kick and moves the ball to a slightly better 'lie', the wall comes crashing in and steals the ball away. Wayne would claim, 'But I didn't kick it yet!' Too bad, you can't have it both ways. If sometimes a slight touch means the ball is in play, then why not every time?

All in all, teams would be better served if they use their practice time on basic techniques and ball handling skills rather than coming up with trick plays.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Let's see. The ball was placed and stationary. An attacking player kicks it and it rolls out toward another attacker who is running up. That player takes the ball and runs to goal. So far all is perfectly legal.

All that is required for it to be a legal restart is the ball be stationary within or on the corner arc, that all opponents be at least 10 yards away, and that the ball be kicked and moved. A roll is a move.

Sounds like the defense was asleep at the wheel. As Ref Voshol notes, the issue with such restarts is whether or not the referee is also paying attention, and s/he notes that all the requirements have been met for the ball to be in play. If not, the attack may lose their 'advantage'. And it rarely works more than once.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Tim. Rooney's team was awarded a corner kick which when taken is in play when it is kicked and moved. What they next did was a common trick we used to see just at youth level but now see everywhere. Rooney properly put the ball in play as he clearly kicked it and it moved, so at that point every other player was free to play the ball which Giggs did.

All perfectly legal and since this is becoming commonplace, it falls on the shoulders of the defenders to be alert

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 23579