THE LAWS OF THE GAME
"Offside Ref!"
by Terry Catherall
How many times have we heard player’s appeal for offside?
When their appeals fall on deaf ears and they have stopped running, within two seconds they are ten yards behind play with their goal under threat. If you are awarded a free kick for offside the referee will let you know. Standing with your arm up will not influence the referee so play to the whistle. On the occasion that the referee does award a free kick following appeals by defenders the attacking team will claim the referee has played the call. It is a no win situation.
Many players still believe that when a player is in an offside position they are entitled to a free kick, not so. The first line of the offside law states "It is not a offence in itself to be in an offside position." It goes on to say that a player in an offside position is only penalised if he is interfering with play, or an opponent, or gaining an advantage by being in that position when the ball is played. Interfering or gaining an advantage is decided by the referee’s opinion, not the players, substitutes or managers, only the referee.
This law does cause problem we all know that. It isn’t black or white; there are grey areas. FIFA encourage benefits of doubt to be given to the attackers. If mistakes are made they are fair and honest mistakes. The majority of the decisions are right but they are not talked about. I was once watching a game and heard a supporter whose team was having a bad day, say; "The trouble with this ref. is that he doesn’t care who wins." That sounds like a compliment. "Who dares wins" is the moto of the S.A.S. and the referee’s moto is "Service before self" It could be "Who cares who wins" I don’t. As long as the game is played in good spirit with an unbiased referee, what more can you want?
Hand Ball or Not?
by Terry Catherall
It is surprising how many players believe that because the ball strikes a player on the hand or arm a free kick or penalty kick should be awarded. A player will only be penalised if in the referee’s opinion he HANDLES THE BALL DELEBERATELY. If the ball is kicked at a player with pace then hits his hand or arm I doubt it was deliberate. Most decisions given for handball are punished with a free kick or penalty kick. Sometimes the punishment extends to a caution for unsporting behaviour if, say a defender blatantly handles the ball in order to breakdown an obvious attacking move. If the action of handball denies and obvious goal scoring opportunity the player will be dismissed, likewise a deliberate handball, which prevents the ball entering the goal, is also a dismissal.
The referee will make his decision from what he sees. Views from different angles will form different opinions. Although the referee makes all the effort to see everything at the crucial moment in time a player may move into the line of sight of the referee and he will miss the incident completely, in which case it is impossible to penalise.
In Answer to the Question, "Direct or Indirect, Ref?"
by Terry Catherall
If a free kick is indirect the referee will hold one arm straight up until the kick is taken and the ball is touched by another player or goes out of play.
A goal cannot be scored from an indirect free kick unless it touches another player before it enters the goal. Players have every right to shoot at goal from an indirect free kick. Should the ball enter the goal without touching another player a goal kick shall be awarded.
Goals can be scored from a direct free kick without the ball touching a player before it enters the goal. Own goals cannot be scored from a direct free kick unless it is touched or played by a player before it enters the goal, If the ball enters your own goal form a direct free kick a corner kick shall be awarded.