Sutton & District Referees Society
Agatha is the Sutton and District Society's very own agony aunt. If you have a burning question you would like to ask a soccer referee with regards to refereeing and the game of soccer but were afraid to ask then send an email to agatha@suttonreferees.co.uk . Each enquiry will be dealt with in strictest confidence and the question and answer will be displayed anonymously in the Questions and Answers section.
Questions and Answers
| Q | A team scores a legitimate goal, but as the teams are lining up to restart, it is pointed out that the team that have just scored have twelve players on the field of play, and the twelfth player was the goal scorer.... is it correct that the goal stands, the extra player leaves the field of play, and play is restarted with the kick off. Answer |
| Q | A player from the opposing team restarts the game with a throw in and as a fair play gesture he throws it back to the keeper. The keeper then picks it up - is this permitted. Answer |
| Q | If from a penalty kick the chosen penalty taker decides to pass the ball to a team mate instead of shooting at goal, will a goal still be rewarded if his/her team mate then scores. Answer |
| Q | If I have a throw in (in a planned move) if one of my players turns his back on me and slowly walks off, can I throw the ball at his back and then collect it again and play on. This is all done deliberately and not just thrown in random at one of my players Answer |
| Q | What is the six yard box actually for? I am sure it's origin was not because of goal kicks but something to do with yardage and fouls in the area Answer |
| Q | In local league football the level of dissent has increased. Each referee has his own tolerance level but what is the best way to nip it in the bud without ending up with a load of cautions? Answer |
| Q | In a penalty shoot out, if the ball touches the goalpost and the goalkeeper before it goes in the net will this be classed as a goal. It is our belief that the the rules differ from a penalty taken in the normal course of play where a player may follow up a penalty to get a goal. Obviously in a shoot out this is not allowed and therefore if the ball comes of the post and goes in the goal off the keeper (rather than going in directly off the post) is the ball already dead and therefore no goal? Answer |
| Q | Could you please define when a tackle from behind is a foul and what appropriate action should be taken. In particular is it still possible to tackle from behind if you make contact with the ball only and not the player. Answer |
| Q |
Some years back, in a game I was playing, one of the opposing forwards punched
the ball into our goal. I was the goalkeeper for our team at the time,
and was extremely annoyed and complained bitterly because the referee awarded
the goal. To add insult to injury, the ref then sent me off.
Knowing that the player had cheated and got away with it, I refused to pay the
fine on principle. I was subsequently banned
sine die
.
Well, last weekend I was asked to play in a representative match, and I couldn't believe my eyes, as it was the same ref who sent me off all those years ago. We got to chatting, and he asked me if I ever paid that fine. When I said no, he sent me off before the kickoff! He can't do that can he? Answer |
| Q | I am a French referee and I have been asked by a magazine why English referees run on the left wing (opposite of most European countries) and date of apparition of linesmen in the laws of the game. Answer |
| Q | In the January 1999 Meeting a point was raised about what to do in a certain situation. Coincidentally the same question was in the January ' Football Referee' under the heading Law Queries as follows: "An attacker and defender left the field because of the momentum of the game, and the ball remained in play. As the attacker tries to re-enter the field of play, the defender holds him back. As this incident is off the pitch, and the ball is 'in play', what decision should a referee make regarding this inciodent". Answer |
| Q |
What would be the proper procedure a referee should follow for the following
situation?
A foul was called resulting in a penalty kick, much to the dismay of the coach of the penalized team. As the teams prepared for the penalty kick, the coach in question, in protest to the call, instructed his goalkeeper to stand away from the goal area. Since the rules state that before the penalty kick is to be taken, the goalkeeper must be on the goal line, several scenarios could develop from this situation (with the goalkeeper refusing to stand on the goal line). Answer |
