Question:
I’m sorry, I’m not one to typically question the foul recognition skills of a referee who has centered a World Cup match, but after listening to Brian Hall on the Week in Review podcast for Week 1, reading the comments in the text, and then watching the video clips, I guess I need some clarification here.

In the evaluation of the Kjelstan foul, Hall writes:

“The leg is down toward the ground and not aimed over the top of the ball. If the cleats were to go over the ball and direct contact made with the opponent’s leg, the tackle could be considered serious foul play.”

I’ve attached two screen captures from the replay of this foul by Kjelstan. [Editor’s Note: Screen shots not included here.] Color me crazy, but both of these screen shots show Kjelstan clearly going over the top of the ball, studs exposed, foot off the ground and making direct contact with force into Kamara’s ankle. Personally, I would say this is a send-off challenge, as it appears to fit the exact description that Mr. Hall uses in his comments to describe serious foul play.

If I’m wrong about this, by all means I have no issue with being told so and why. I don’t pretend to understand the nuances of working a game at the level of MLS or have the experience necessary to differentiate minor differences in what might define a send-off at that level as compared to a U16 match. I guess I would, however, like some clarification on the comments made that defined this as a caution rather than a send-off.

USSF answer (April 13, 2009):
Screen shots can be deceptive, but U.S. Soccer made the decision that the challenge was only a yellow card by reviewing the play at full speed as well as the replays. In both cases, it was felt that the player committing the foul made contact with the ball and not with the opponent. In the run of play, this is what the referee also saw. As stated, if contact was not made directly with the ball, the referee would be well within his rights to issue a red card for serious foul play. This is not an easy decision and is one of inches. Every decision made must be considered in context. If a similar challenge occurs in an U16 match, the referee can use his/her judgment in deciding whether the challenge meets the criteria for a red card.…

Question:
the goalie has possession of the ball and punts the ball not very far about a yard away can she pick it up again while the ball is in the air…and nobody touches the ball? does it make a diffrence if it touches the ground?

USSF answer (April 10, 2009):
If the goalkeeper releases the ball from her hands and kicks it away and it hits the the ground, the ball is in play for everyone and the goalkeeper may not pick it up again until some other player has played it. We have a difficult time picturing a punt that the goalkeeper kicks only one yard yet is able to catch in the air. Seeing as this is clearly impossible, it did not happen — at least for purposes of this particular case — and there is no infringement of the Law.…

Question:
Recently, one of our players was called off sides after receiving a long punt from our goalie who just made a save. In the laws of the game, it states that a player can not be off sides on a goal kick. The rules also describe a goal kick as a kick that occurs after the ball travels over the end line, last touched by attacking player. But what happens if the goalie makes a save and punts the ball? Is the goalie punting the ball the same as a goal kick regarding offsides? Any clarification on goalie punts vs. goal kicks and offsides would be greatly appreciated.

USSF answer (April 10, 2009):
Law 11 (Offside) tells it all — There is no offside offense if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick. The goal kick is a way of putting the ball back into play. The goalkeeper punt is a way for the goalkeeper to get rid of the ball within the amount of time for him or her to do so , but the ball is already in play.

Your player was probably called offside correctly when he or she received the ball from the goalkeeper punt.…

Question:
If a defender in full possession of the ball, passes the ball deliberately backward (ie no glancing or rebound) with the intention of passing back to the goalkeeper, and in so doing passes to an opponent from the attacking team who would, if the pass had come from an attacking team mate, have been standing in an offside position at the time of the pass from the defender, with the clear intention of interfering with play (and indeed going onto score so actually interfering with play), is the attacking player in an offside position?

In a recent Champions League game (Manchester United v FC Porto April 7th), this was demonstrated when Wayne Rooney, who was standing clearly in an offside position between the last defender and the goalkeeper in anticipation of the pass back, took possession of the ball by virtue of the pass and went onto score. He was in my opinion, not only (a) standing in an offside position when the ball was played (b) interfering with play by taking possession of the ball (c) preventing an opponent from taking possession of the ball by intercepting the ball in an offside position.

All of the Rules and interpretations I have seen phrase the consideration of an offside offence in terms of passes accurately or erroneously made by the attacking team and falling inadvertently (by rebound or deflection) or deliberately to a team mate who may or may not be in an offside position. Or they deal with an opponent defending a set piece goal kick. They do not deal with a deliberate pass by a defender to an opposition player who may be in a conventional offside position at the time the ball is played. 

Could you tell me what should be the correct interpretation of this situation? Is an attacking player never offside if a defender passes directly to the attacker who would otherwise be standing in an offside position, by virtue of the defender having passed (inadvertently one assumes) to him?

USSF answer (April 9, 2009):
In short, yes. But perhaps we should give you more information on the matter.

A player may stand in an offside position for the entire game and never be called offside if he or she is not involved in play. And that, in turn, requires that the ball last be played by a teammate. If the ball was last possessed and played by an opponent, as in your scenario, there can be no offside.

We are concerned about possession of the ball in such cases, not in accuracy of passes. If by accuracy you mean that the opposing defender took a wild swing at the ball and it glanced off him to the player in the offside position, that would not negate the call of offside, as the opposing player never had possession of the ball.…

Question:
In a recent youth league (U10) our opponents used a tactic where to prevent a quick quick after a foul the coach instructed his players to line up within the required distance and “have the referee move you” Although you have answered a similar question, my question was if the coach is deliberately instructing players in an illegal tactic should the referee address the coach or the players? Also is each player involved cautioned or a single player cautioned (In the event the referee decides to issue a caution–At this level I’m sure rule 18 may imply some instruction first before penalty). I wanted to provide some (correct) insight in my referee report (we evaluate our referees and i take my role seriously to give them correct feedback so that they can improve).

USSF answer (April 9, 2009):
The referee cannot act on incomplete information. Unless the referee or one of the other officials hears the coach issue such instructions and judges that act to be irresponsible behavior, it did not happen.  Unless a coach is inciting to riot, we can’t really penalize coaches for bad advice or bad judgment or ignorance of the Law — only players who make the mistake of taking the coach’s advice.  If that is the way the coach is seeking to delay, then so be it.  It either works or it doesn’t.  In this case, this becomes a function of the referee’s knowledge of the Law, feel for the game, and competitive level of the match. No referee should hesitate to card a player for failure to retreat the required distance (FRD) — where it made a difference — despite the tactics of the coach, because it is the player doing it.

As to cautioning the players who are failing to withdraw the required distance from the spot of the restart, the referee should not issue cards willy-nilly, but should caution whichever player or players need the caution so that the referee can get the job done.  This follows the fundamental principle of doing the LEAST necessary to accomplish the desired result.  Usually, it only takes one, which is why we advise referees when faced with this sort of situation to single out ONE player by number and demand enforcement.  THAT’s the player who gets the card if there isn’t compliance.  Technically, of course, ALL players are subject to the same discipline.  Whom do you single out?  Doesn’t matter– though we would tend not to pick someone who had already been cautioned IF the prior caution was for something other than FRD. Now if it had been for FRD, hammer the sucker!).…

Question:
during play a substitute player came onto the filed of play and disaollowed an obvious goal scoring oppurtunity in the penalty area .what should be the referee’s decision…….and if that happens to be the substitute goal keeper by disallowing that goal with his hands in the penalty area.

USSF answer (April 8, 2009):
Yes, this can be done. According to the IFAB/FIFA Q&A 2006-07, Law 3:

13. A substitute, warming up behind his own goal, enters the field of play and prevents the ball entering the goal with his foot. What action does the referee take?
The referee stops play, cautions the substitute for unsporting behavior and the match is restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team where the ball was when play was stopped *.
13.1. If the player prevents the goal with his hand, what action does the referee take?
The referee stops play and sends-off the substitute for denying the opposing team a goal by deliberately handling the ball and the match is restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team where the ball was when play was stopped *.

The answer is also found in FIFA training materials from 2006:

Denying a Goal or a Goal-Scoring Opportunity
It is not necessary that the offense which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity be a direct free kick foul
– It could be an indirect free kick foul (dangerous play)
– It could also be misconduct
• Example: goalkeeper bends the crossbar down far enough that the ball does not go into the net
• Example: a substitute illegally enters the field and trips an attacker who has a clear shot on goal
• Example: a defender uses the shoulders of a teammate to lift himself higher to head the ball away