Game
15, 2017-18
The home team is leading 1-0, and there are
two minutes to go in this boys’ U15 game. After a six-player stramash in the
arc outside the penalty area, I award a free-kick against the home team directly
in front of their goal. They’ve been in the mood to moan all through the second
half, encouraged by their collectively vociferous coaches and parents, but then
they quickly realise that they’d better set about organising their wall.
 |
| Wall organised - but be quick about it |
One of their players has already placed
himself right in front of the ball, effectively neutralising the chance of a
quick free-kick. There’s no punishment for this (if the kick is taken and he moves
to block the ball, then I can I give a yellow card and award a re-take), and
the only thing I can do is ask the away team if they would like me to mark out
a wall. They duly say, “Yes”, and so I tell them to wait for the whistle.
