Date:         Fri, 26 May 2006 14:05:50 -0700
Reply-To:     Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees
              <[log in to unmask]>
Sender:       Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees
              <[log in to unmask]>
From:         Patrick Duffy <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Additional instructions on delaying the restart of play
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Per Law 9:
"The ball is out of play when: 
-it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line, whether on the
ground or in the air
-play has been stopped by the referee."

So, no, stopping play because the ball has crossed the line does not
"technically" require the intervention of the referee.

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gary Voshol
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 2:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Additional instructions on delaying the restart of play

> Effective immediately, the additional instructions from FIFA add 
> another bullet point to the ways that players can delay restarts: 
> "Provoking a confrontation by deliberately touching the ball after the

> referee has stopped play."
>
> When the original experiment began in 2005, the approach certainly was

> new.
> Cautions were flying whenever the opponent touched the ball for any 
> restart by the opponents.  But, now, the instruction only covers 
> "after the referee has stopped play."  Thus, it would involve 
> defenders who grab or kick the ball after a foul is called against 
> their team, but these hardly are the events that "provoke a 
> confrontation."

I wouldn't read "referee has stopped play" that strictly.  If play is
stopped because the ball went over the line, isn't play stopped
technically only upon the ref acknowledging the ball is out?

Gary Voshol
USSF 8, Mich.