Obstruction.

**Begbie** · #1 29-09-2011, 10:22 PM

I thought about asking Steve, our tame ref, about this last night and after watching the Celtic/Udinese game the question is more relevant.

Whatever happened to the indirect free kick for obstructing an opponent? Nowadays it results in a direct free kick/penalty and probably a yellow card for the defender.

Has the invention of the phrase 'Professional foul' changed things?

**imperial109** · #2 29-09-2011, 10:46 PM

The one that always got me was when players would block players when the ball was going out of play, surely that's obstruction. If it happened in the middle of the park it would be a free kick.

**Begbie** · #3 29-09-2011, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imperial109

The one that always got me was when players would block players when the ball was going out of play, surely that's obstruction. If it happened in the middle of the park it would be a free kick.

If it happened in the middle of the park, an opposing player could nip in from the other direction and take the ball off you. Near the goal-line there is less chance of an opposing player 'nipping in' to take the ball off you so it looks differently but is still the same thing.

**Greenman** · #4 30-09-2011, 11:26 AM

when are these free-kicks awarded?" I hear you ask.

It is when, in the opinion of the ref, a player does the following:

1) Impedes the progression of an opponent (obstruction)
2) Plays in a dangerous manner
3) Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands

Or when a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area:
1) Holds on to the ball for more than six seconds
2) Handles a backpass
3) Handles the ball after receiving it from a team-mate direct from a throw-in
4) Touches the ball again with his hands, before it is touched by another player, after releasing it from his possession

Want to know a bit more about when the ref gets pointing to that famous spot?

**imperial109** · #5 30-09-2011, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenman

Or when a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area:
1) Holds on to the ball for more than six seconds
2) Handles a backpass
3) Handles the ball after receiving it from a team-mate direct from a throw-in
4) Touches the ball again with his hands, before it is touched by another player, after releasing it from his possession

Want to know a bit more about when the ref gets pointing to that famous spot?

I think they are all in-direct free kicks.

**Begbie** · #6 30-09-2011, 10:45 PM

You are all ignoring my original point. What happened to the offence of 'obstruction'?

Is it still an offence?

**glenman** · #7 30-09-2011, 11:29 PM

It is still an offence but refs decide to ignore some rules-say a bad word to them or take your shirt off and you are fecked though.

**imperial109** · #8 01-10-2011, 12:03 AM

I think it obstruction if it happens in the middle of the park, but if it happens in a goal scoring opportunity then its a professional foul.

**Greenman** · #9 02-10-2011, 01:38 PM

There is a lot of inconsistency in refereeing decisions weather its for obstruction or an out right foul that the ref has to adjudicate on, they are all made worse by instant replay on TV screens, which puts the poor old ref at a disadvantage, of cause there's the big money and fan pressure now, all wanting instant success all adding there 10 penny-worth to the little guy trying to keep it under control.
I don't fancy there job 1 bit.