FOR many years I ran a quiz for football clubs in Reading on the Laws of the Game.
Although successful, I was concerned every year that those taking part would know all the answers.
I needn’t have worried of course and there is certainly one question from this season’s rewritten laws, that I am sure would flummox them all. Can a manager or perhaps a physio give away a penalty?
Sounds unbelievable doesn’t it but that is one of the more revolutionary laws that have been introduced this season.
Until this year, there were only 10 direct free-kick offences and all of them except handball, had to be committed against an opponent.
This has all changed. In Law 3 “The Players” it says; “If, with the ball in play, a substitute, a substituted player, team officials or a player who had been sent off, enters the field of play and interferes with play or an opponent, it will be punished by a direct free-kick.” Of course if it happens in the penalty area it will be a penalty.
I have never had this happen but I am told this sort of behaviour is on the increase and I have seen videos on YouTube, of club officials coming on to prevent the ball going into the goal.
There is another aspect to all this. If a player commits an offence, whilst the ball is in play, against a team mate, substitute, substituted player or match officials, (and it happens), this will be now be punished by a direct free-kick or penalty.
Previously this has been an indirect free-kick. The lawmakers felt it was unfair that if a player kicked an opponent, a direct free-kick was awarded but it was only indirect if he kicked the referee.
Incidentally, for an offence against any other person in similar circumstances, a spectator for instance, then the game would be restarted by a dropped ball.
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