Free kicks against officials.
Queries are raised on a number of occasions about whether umpires are allowed to award free kicks against runners, officials and waterpersons during a game, if those people appear not to be carrying out their specified duties. I have broken down the full law as it appears in the law book and highlighted the relevant portions.
The answer is yes and our field umpires are instructed to do so, especially in light of part b of law 15.9.1, which relates to free kicks in general. That particular segment of the law, general play alludes to the number of times we instruct runners, officials and waterpersons to leave the playing surface and they ignore those instructions, unless they are carrying out a specific duty. If that is the case and they continue to ignore the umpire’s instructions or in turn, abuse the umpires, then a free kick will be awarded and where it is taken is highlighted in the second part of the law.
15.9 FREE KICKS — GENERALLY
(b) an Official of the Team or such other person of the Team who may from time to time be permitted onto the Playing Surface, intentionally, recklessly or negligently interferes with the football, a Player of the opposition Team, an Umpire or general play;
15.9.2 Taking a Free Kick Given Against an Official
Where a Free Kick is awarded against a Team because of the conduct of an Official of the Team, the Free Kick shall be taken by the Player of the opposition Team who is closest to where the infringement occurred or where the football is located, whichever is the greater penalty against the offending Team.
It becomes increasingly frustrating for the umpires to try and control a game and for the players to try and play the game, when you have a ‘gaggle’ of trainers and waterpersons literally ‘spectating’ on the ground, instead of doing their jobs then getting off the playing surface.
When those officials are off of the playing surface, they should be well back from the boundary line as well, allowing room for the boundary umpires to run and perform their duties. Coaching and support staff and interchange players should also be well back from the boundary line, in fact behind the ‘first’ line marked in front of their respective coaching areas.
However it has been brought to our attention on a number of occasions, that coaching staff, officials and interchange players continually stand close to, or even on the boundary line. When those officials are given an instruction to move back behind the first line, our umpires are then abused! Please be advised that if the abuse continues, the umpires can and will pay a free kick against those officials, where they stand!
Last Modified on 04/06/2015 12:32
