One thing that occupies many referees’ discussions is the best position to stand at set plays. Agreement is not always reached and very often the position will vary, depending on whether you have neutral assistant referees or those appointed by the clubs. I was reminded of this when watching the penalty controversy at Reading’s Premiership match against Tottenham on
Match of the Day.
At a penalty there are four things a referee has to watch for. To start with, does the ball cross the line, obviously a key factor? Then, does the goalkeeper stay on his line until the kicker plays the ball? Originally the goalkeeper couldn’t move his feet but a change of law in
1997 leaves him free to move, providing he stays on his goal line. Thirdly the referee has to ensure that the kick is taken correctly; that is to say that it is kicked forward and the kicker doesn’t play it again before it has been touched by another player. This usually only occurs when the ball rebounds off the goalpost or crossbar. And fourthly he has to make sure that no player, other than the kicker, enters the penalty area before the kick is taken.
So it can be seen that a referee has a lot to look for at the taking of a penalty kick and to see it all may not be impossible but it is extremely difficult. What matters of course is the position the referee takes up.
In 2000, The International FA Board revised the duties for assistant referees at penalty kicks. It gave them task of judging whether the ball has crossed the line and whether the goalkeeper moves off his line before the kick is taken. This means that the referee is left with the job of checking whether the kick is taken correctly and watching for players encroaching into the area before it is taken. This, I might add, only applies when the there are neutral, qualified assistant referees. Referees on local competitions still have to judge it all.
From this it is quite clear that in the
Tottenham - Reading game it was the referee’s duty to detect any encroachment which as we all know, he failed to do. Why did he not spot Defoe’s encroaching when it was fairly blatant? I believe it is because of the position that Premiership
referees have chosen, or been instructed to take at penalty kicks. To start with they were actually standing in the line with the players, which to me was quite ludicrous. They obviously couldn’t watch the players on both sides of them at the same time.
Now they have moved to the end of the line or perhaps slightly in front. The problem I think now is that, from that position, they can’t be watching the line as well as the kicker. The key moment, as I always tell the goalkeeper and the players when I award a penalty kick, is when the ball is kicked,
not when the whistle is blown. From his position the referee must be able to see the kick being taken and the other players at the same time. To do this, I believe he has to get back nearer the goal-line looking inwards.
The punishment for Defoe’s encroachment should have been an indirect free kick to Reading and not a retake of the kick as some have suggested. It would only be retaken if the penalty kick had gone direct into the goal or a Reading player had encroached at the same time.
Some people have expressed the opinion that Premiership referees don’t worry about encroachment any more. Although no one is going to be concerned about a foot over the line, I’m sure that is not the case. What needs to happen I believe is that they reconsider their positioning at penalty kicks.
Dick Sawdon Smith
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© R Sawdon Smith 2008