A Question of Interpretation - Part Four

I have it on good authority that up until the end of February, only Sutton had queried the interpretation of the incident similar to that that had occurred in South America, whereby Phil Neville was fouled off the field of play with the ball still in the penalty area.  Dave Churchley had claimed that the article in January's issue of the "Football Referee" was incorrect in stating a drop ball should be awarded and not an indirect free kick, and he had stated, quite convincingly, his reasons for this.  As we all know, the referee of the match did nothing.

The article has sparked further controversy.  The no less a personage of the County RA Secretary, David Crick, was interested enough to contact the RA's Instructional & Publications Committee's guru Alan Robinson, who after much discussion with his committee, had decided that the original interpretation in the "Football Referee" was incorrect and that Dave Churchley's argument held water.  Although that committee's deliberations were by no means clear cut.

I have to say that this decision does not sit happily with me, especially after my response in February's "Touchlines"!  I fully concur, and it is stated in the Laws, that if a player infringes the Laws whilst on the field, and while the ball is in play, and if play is stopped to administer a caution, an indirect free kick should be awarded.  Returning to the original problem, one could make an argument to propose that the opposite must also be correct.  If the ball is out of play ie beyond the boundaries of the field, and an offence happens on the field, should we be allowed to bring the ball onto the field to award a free kick?  The question then arises, that if the ball is out of play, say for example an indirect free kick for offside, and the defender who is about to take the kick pushes an opponent out of the way in a reckless manner, should we then be empowered to reverse the free kick award to the opposing team?

I don't think we have heard the last of this.  I believe that the phrase "the jury's out" is applicable and Alan Robinson may yet preside and don the black hat to pronounce sentence!

Peter Watson