Essex County FA Referee Development Officer, Terry Thacker, is itching to answer your questions as part of the world famous Thackerchat feature!
If you saw a game over the weekend and wondered why the referee gave a certain decision, or if there’s a simple question that has been bugging you for ages, then make Thackerchat your first port of call via E-Mail at info@essexfa.com or by calling (01245) 393085!
“I’m just after the County's view with regards to jewellery. I know the Laws of the Game state players will remove all jewellery. However, I constantly hear on a Sunday morning that someone is unable to remove a ring for whatever reason but offers to tape it up. Is this acceptable to the County or is the stance to take it off or not play?" Paul, Wickford
“Law 4 States “A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).” The Laws of the Game are the same no matter when or where it is being played. A few years ago it was permitted for a player to tape-up the ring if it could not be removed but this is now not the case and the ring must be removed. You will be surprised at the number of times a ring which, according to the player, cannot be removed is removed once the referee informs the player they won't be able to play otherwise!” Terry
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“I was refereeing a youth match at the end of this season and one of the goalkeepers took a goal kick in accordance with Law 16. However, as he kicked the ball, it was still moving. I asked him to retake the kick and explained why. At half time I was approahed by the 'keeper and the team captain who asked why I had the goal kick retaken. I explained why. The goalkeeper and team captain both claim that they had recently taken the referee course and stated that the goalkeeper was entitled to take the kick whilst the ball was still moving. At the end of the game a parent approached me and asked, politely, the same question, reiterating that he too had read the same law as the two aforementioned players. Can the goalkeeper take a goal kick if the ball is still moving?” David, Maldon
“This is a difficult one to answer. In Law 16 (Goal Kick) it doesn't state the ball has to be stationary, whereas in Law 13 (Free Kick) and Law 8 (Star and Restart of Play) it does state the ball must be stationary. The argument is a goal kick is a form of restart and therefore the ball should be stationary. However, in all other restarts apart from free kicks to the defending side in their own penalty area, the ball is in play once it has been touched and moves, taken from where the infringement occurred. With a goal kick, this can be taken from anywhere within the goal area and the ball is not in play until it has passed outside the penalty area. If the referee of the game deems taking a goal kick with a moving ball as unsporting behaviour then he/she would be correct in having the kick retaken.” Terry
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“I refereed a game on Sunday and was asked by a qualified official, who was running the line as a club assistant, why I did not ask players to leave the field of play after they had received treatment. I know by the letter of the law anybody receiving treatment must leave the field of play, but when doing youth football would you adhere strictly to this rule as well when you ask the coach to come on to attend to his player?” John, Via E-Mail
"The FA do make a number of concessions for those playing youth football. However, the removal of injured players after receiving treatment is not one of them. Therefore, as far as the Laws of the Game are concerned, all players who receive treatment should be asked to leave until the ball is put back into play.” Terry
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“I referee local youth matches and during the cold weather and many of the youngsters have taken to wearing woolly hats. The Laws of the Game do not include them as players' kit so I have stuck to the letter of the law and asked them to be removed before playing. Is this right?” Carl, Harlow
“There is nothing in the Laws of the Game to prevent a player wearing a woolly hat. The only reason a player should be stopped from doing so is if the referee believes it to be a danger to the player him/herself or an opponent. The ECFA Referee Development Officers' view is, in cold weather, we see no reason why a woolly hat should not be allowed.” Terry
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“At a match recently I watched as a player took a throw in only for the linesperson to flag that the ball didn't come into play. The referee awarded a throw-in to the opposing team, rendering the initial throw a foul. Surely, if the ball doesn't come into play, then the referee should have let the player take it again?" Peter, Via E-Mail
"You are correct. If the ball does not come into play, the throw should be taken again by the same team." Terry
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"I was watching a game recently when a player was through on goal in the middle of the penalty area when he was pulled down by the goalkeeper who was the last man. A penalty was awarded. Is the referee required to give a red card or can it just be a yellow card. The goalkeeper denied the player that was through, a goal-scoring opportunity." David, Via E-Mail
"The referee has to decide if it was an obvious goal-scoring opportunity or not. If, in the opinion of the referee, it was, he should send the player off. What the referee has to consider is (a) if the player was moving directly towards the goal (if not it should not be a send-off) and (b) if any opponent could have prevented the obvious goal-scoring opportunity. We are always hearing about the 'last man' though this is not mentioned in the Laws of the Game. What the referee has to consider if there are members of the defending side between the challenge and the goal. Would they have been able to prevent the goal-scoring opportunity? If so, it would not be a sending-off offence unless it was judged to be serious foul play, which is a sending-off offence anywhere on the Field of Play. Without seeing the incident it would be wrong of me to state if the goalkeeper should have been sent off or not." Terry
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“I was just wondering, as a referee, about stoppages other than the usual substitutes and injuries. When I officiate in some grounds and public parks, is it mandatory to stop the watch every time the ball goes out of play in some cases where, in a park for instance, a striker has had a shot and its gone over the bar and gone quite a way behind the goal? I think if it was stopped every time the 90 minutes would drag on, with a lot of added time.” Sean, Dagenham
“Law 5 states under 'Powers and Duties' that the referee "acts as timekeeper" which means the referee is the sole timekeeper and will add time as he/she feels is appropriate. Referees do not normally stop the watch every time the ball goes out of play, however, if in his/her opinion it takes a long time to retrieve the ball, time should be added on.” Terry
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"I was recently playing in a cup match where I was asked to remove my undershorts as they didn't match the kit (the shorts were dark blue and the undershorts were black). I have to wear these shorts due to a medical condition and informed the official of this, but he insisted these where removed. I was just wondering when this rule came in and why this hasn't been brought up in any other match I have played in this year." Daniel, Sawbridgeworth
"Law 4 relating to 'The Players’ Equipment' states that, if undershorts are worn, they must be of the same main colour as the shorts. If the player has a medical condition, I would question should the player be playing. The most common reason for undershorts to be worn is a groin strain and if this is the case the player should buy undershorts the same colour of the shorts. This has been in the Laws of the Game for the past eight or nine years. I cannot explain why other referees have not asked the player to remove the undershots, however, the referee who did has applied the law correctly." Terry
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