Shielding the ball = a booking?

[Marc]

blimey 2nd football related thread from me today

Shielding the ball by the defender when its running out for a goal kick seems to be allowed...do it anywhere else on the pitch and its a foul because your not 'playing the ball'. Sometimes defenders even get free kicks on the goal line because the opposition player has tried to swing his leg round to get the ball but the defender has blocked him getting to it.

Now what would you rather happen, have the defender clear it or get booked and give away a free kick for not playing the ball.
Or leave it and get away with it until they do they same elsewhere and give away a free kick!

Discuss...

 

[Wozza]

It's...

Oh sod it, I've used up all my energy understanding your post.

 

[Turkey]

If the referre thinks you can touch the ball you can shield it all you like. As soon as the ball is to far away from you to touch it then its obstruction. End of.

 

[Beeneys gloves]

I hate this rule because if done anywhere else in on the pitch it constitutes a foul and probable booking, no-one every days do it in the penalty area so why are u allowed to do it on the touchline, should be banned in my opinion

 

[Reading Posh]

If the referre thinks you can touch the ball you can shield it all you like. As soon as the ball is to far away from you to touch it then its obstruction. End of.

He's right you know.

Signed
A Sunday Morning Ref

 

[Titanic]

There is nothing that stops you shielding the ball in any area of the pitch - other than 11 opposition players! It only works if the ball is rolling fairly quickly and already near the touchline... otherwise you just nip round him!

 

[Billy Seagull]

Its bloody annoying when players do this - if I was a striker I'd be tempted to clatter the defender shielding the ball. Should be a free kick for obstruction IMO.

 

[looney]

What about the goal keepers steps rule? That seems to be broken always.

 

[Titanic]

D'oh!

 

[afc womble]

have to say that does reeeally annoy me to.

it was also the trigger for me hearing my father swear for the first time ever!! aah memories.

 

[looney]

I got booked for sheilding the ball once, it was stationary, I could kick it and I was waiting for another player to move into position.

 

[Reading Posh]

What about the goal keepers steps rule? That seems to be broken always

You jest surely?

The four-step rule is long gone and keepers now have six seconds to get the ball back into play.

 

[Titanic]

Looney - I just read your 'Location:' and it seems most appropriate. It's obviously the place for a little prick like you

 

[looney]

Hah it means im an absolute **** ya fairy arsed fool, now beat it before I f***ing sink you quicker than your namesake.

Thanks for updating the rules for me.

 

[Gritt23]

As far as I'm concerned refs just need to start adhering to the rules, and not treating that part of the pitch as a special case.

It's obstruction, pure and simple. Refs just need to start giving it. Surely the moment the ball has run out of play, then it's evident that the defender wasn't looking to play the ball, and at that moment I think the ref can confidently blow for the foul.

 

[Benny Seagull]

shielding is a part of football. can't get booked for it as where do you draw the line? it's like when someone shields it by the corner flag - it fucks me right off when we do it and i got f***ed off when heskey started doing it but it's something nothing can be done about it.

 

[Reading Posh]

It's obstruction, pure and simple. Refs just need to start giving it.

sorry Gritt, but as long as the ball remains within playing distance the ref cannot blow for obstruction.

it's something nothing can be done about it

If the FA can experiment with kick-ins instead of throw-ins they can certainly apply to FIFA to try and outlaw "time-wasting obstruction."

 

[larus]

It annoys me. Defenders run right across the ball, swing arms out wide and then slow right down. If the intention is NOT to play the ball, it's obstruction. Stuff the rules - there should be interpretation, i.e. gamesmanship, or whatever.

Same as players charging in. Yes, using your upper body/strength is OK, but what that defeneder did last night to Knight was a foul (when he chared in with his forearm to push Knight off the ball).

However, I think FIFA have gradually tried to make the game flow more: just think how boring is was watching some games in the past when teams could back-pass to the keeper and he could pick it up.

 

[Seagull Stew]

Obstruction maybe but yellow cards for it?

Do you really want Danny Cullip to miss half the season with suspensions?