Could someone enlighten me about what rule Lille said he broke in taking the kick quickly.Sun article (not that I read the sun often)
video of free kick
I’m not sure what the exact rule is. But I’m pretty sure that play can’t restart until the referee has blown his whistle which in this case, he didn’t.
Every article I have read says that the free-kick did not break that rule.
No rule was broken. A penalty taker is generally allowed to take a penalty kick as soon as he wishes, once the ball is spotted. However, when the ball is within reasonable striking distance the referee at his discretion can inform the player to wait for the whistle, allowing the defending team to form a wall and the attacking team to set up whatever set pice they wish. There is no requirement that the referee do this, although they often do, and quite often they will ask the attacking player if they wish to wait for a whistle.
I don’t think the whistle has any legal status. It is merely used by the referee to call the players’ attention.
Usually what happens when a free kick is given close to goal is that there is a lot of jockeying for position, and the referee suspends play and sorts everything out. Once the referee is happy, he/she indicates that play may resume, often with a toot on the whistle. Lille may have assumed that play was suspended because they hadn’t yet heard the usual whistle, but as far as the Man United players were concerned play was still ongoing, so they felt entitled to take the free kick then and there.
Even if this was the case, it’s ultimately a referee’s decision as to whether a free kick is legitimate or not.
I just took a look at the FA’s rules (yes, I know this was a European competition, but I could find them easily), and you’re right that there’s no specific mention of the whistle being crucial. In fact, I didn’t see any mention of a whistle at all, anywhere, even under the laws governing the referee and the start & stop of play.
I agree. Ultimately, it was his decision and he decided to let the goal stand.
And consider my ignorance fought if there isn’t a rule about the starting/stopping of play. I’m surprised.
Referee here.
This is one of those situations that arises all the time, especially at the lower levels of the game.
When a team is awarded a free kick, they can take it as quickly as they want. Normally, in a ‘ceremonial’ free kick (ie. where there is a likely shot at goal) the referee will ask the kicking team if they want to take it quickly. If they say no, the referee will tell them to wait for the whistle and signal this to the defending team. This isn’t a rule - it is advice from Fifa and generally good man-management.
So, in short, no rule was broken. The fact that these are top-class players and coaches and don’t know the rules is, unfortunately, not unusual.
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The referee determines the starting/stopping of play. He can choose to do this by voice, whistle or hand signals in all cases - apart from kick off at the beginning of each half in fact, or for a penalty, where the whistle must be used.
As a referee, what is your opinion of players who attempt to initimidate the referee into booking opponents? I think the level to which this happens outside of English football suprised a lot of people (including myself) during the last world cup. The sight of players charging up to the referee, and in some cases getting right into the referees face, holding up imaginary cards was quite sickening and seemed to display such poor sportsmanship.
What are the official rulings/instructions regarding this sort of behaviour on the pitch?
Also, if a team (or part of a team) walks off, at what point does the referee award the match to the remaining team?
And finally, what do you think should be the outcome of the inquiry into the Lille - Man Utd match, with regards to policing and team conduct?
Thanks!
You’re right - it is surprising how much it happens.
The interesting thing about a lot of football is that the way the game is managed at the grass roots level (basically up to Conference level) is very different to how it is managed above that. My FA (Somerset) is incredibly strict on ‘foul and abusive language and gestures’ and swearing at or attempting to intimidate an official will get you sent off every time. In some cases, the FA will also impose a lengthy ban for such behaviour.
As far as trying to get players booked - this comes under the all-encompassing definition of ‘unsporting behaviour’. Again, UEFA and FA directives are clear that simulation (diving) and attempts to encourage penalisation of the opposition are clear examples of unsporting behaviour - which is a yellow card offence. For whatever reason, this is rarely carried out in top-flight football. Cynics might say that is because the controversy such occurences generate is good for the game - keeps passions high, etc.
One of the laws of association football is that the game must be abandoned if a team has less than 8 players on the field - so once 4 walk off (or are sent off, injured after substitutions), it’s game over! However, if a team (or enough players) leave the field of play, it is at the referee’s discretion when to abandon the game. Most would do so immediately. The referee then reports to the governing body of the game (in this case UEFA) who make a ruling as to whether it should be replayed or whether the result should stand. Of course, they could also decide to disqualify the team if it had broken competition rules (almost certainly the case in the Man U/Lille debacle).
I certainly think that Lille should be punished for their part of the mess the other day. Personally, I would kick them out the CL but I doubt UEFA have the balls!
As far as policing, I don’t really know about that. I know that the Lens police have a reputation for being heavy-handed - there was a similar crush and mini-riot before a Lens/Arsenal game a couple of years ago from memory.
As a follow up (I’m a ref as well), if the attacking team asks the referee to enforce the 10 yard rule, the ref will usually then tell both teams, that play will be restarted by a whistle, then set the wall/move players, get in possition and restart - thus preventing the attacking team from playing the ball while the ref is moving the defense around and distracting them. If the attacking team does not ask for that, they can kick the ball any time they want - it is the defense’s problem if they are not paying attention or take too much time to get the wall set.
Another way to look at this, is by looking at what happens when a foul occurs in the middle of the field. The attacking team, simply puts the ball down and kicks it, often very very quickly. The defense doesn’t complain then. Just because the foul/free kick occur very near the goal doesn’t change the rules. Its mostly that players are used to close free kicks being taken slowly will all sorts of set up, so they got angry this time. It is simple frustration and ignorance of the rules.
Another to keep in mind, is that a player can be cautioned for leaving/entering the field without the referees persmission. I was watching the game when the Lille players started moving toward the sideline, and number of them actually stepped off the field. The ref could have cautioned (yellow carded) those players that did.
In fact I was slightly suprised that he didn’t confer with the other officials and caution a few of the players, or at least tell ManU to go ahead and throw the ball in and keep playing. ManU didn’t have to wait during all that - the game wasn’t stopped, and they had the throw I believe.
Indeed - he would have had to caution each player that left the field without permission.
And yes, I also agree that had Man U just taken the throw-in, there is a good chance that the Lille players would have just started again. Of course, alternatively there might have been a riot!
Former referee here; maybe soon will be again.
Like everyone else, I agree the goal was perfectly legitimate. The reaction of the Lille staff and players was completely uncalled for.
However, just to be a bit contrary, is there anyone who would disagree that Lille would have been better off strategically with a player standing in front of the ball, illegally (but virtually never punished) preventing the quick restart and prompting the use of the whistle? To some extent, Lille suffered by immediately giving 10 yards as the Laws require.
Yeah, you’re absolutely right, and the more savvy teams do this. Of course, the more savvy opposition just roll the ball to the right or left and have a shot…everyone trying to be one step ahead!
Also, continuing the contrariness vein, there is a certain level of gamesmanship in not taking a free kick when the opposition obviously aren’t paying attention. Mind you, it’s these grey areas that make the game so thrilling!!
I appreciate the contribution from referees. 
As a fan, it always bugs me how any attacking free-kick awarded near the penalty area turns into a delay of game.
One defending player deliberately stands in front of the ball and lines up the wall, consulting with the goalkeeper.
The players in the wall start 7 yards away (instead of 10). The referee tries to get their attention. Eventually he makes them move back to 10 yards. The referee now moves back to get out of the way and the wall move forward to 9 yards.
Finally, as soon as any attacking player prepares to take the kick, at least one dfensive player runs forward.
:rolleyes:
In rugby, the instant the referee awards a free kick, all defensive players **run ** back 10 yards. Any attempt to delay the game, or interfere with play is punished by a free kick 10 yards further forward, or by being sent to the sin bin.
I wish this happened in football.
Thanks! We don’t get appreciated much! 
They trialled it a few years ago in the Worthington Cup (and the Football League?). The problem is that football isn’t as inherently a territorial game, so 10 yards is either meaningless, crucial, indifferent or, sometimes, a disadvantage. For instance, with regard to the latter, if you have a free kick say 20 yards out on the corner of the area, that’s a pretty good position - you can shoot, cross, roll the ball to one side, etc. If you are moved 10 yards forward your options decrease immediately. Alternatively, if you have a free kick on the half way line, as a defender you may as well hold up the play as 10 yards is going to make little difference.
Now the sin bin approach on the other hand! I’ve been in favour of that for a long time, and think it would add sufficient rigour to the yellow card.
Unfortunately yes. Though, if referees would immediately caution any player doing that, as they should, the practice would stop pretty quickly. And then the game could start being played as it should > free kick is awarded, defense gets out of the way quickly, attackers can take quick kick if they want, and the defenders have to pay attention, get set quicker, etc.
It will be interesting to see what FIFA will do to the referee. I do not think that FIFA can punish the referee because he did not do anything officially wrong.
But they will want to punish him.
I predict this will happen -the referee will never get a international game again. He will slowly but steadily get less big games in his country. Then he may get relegated to the lower divisions of his country. Then after a few years he will resign in disgust complaining of discrimination but unable to prove any.