Rule 4(a)
50m Advancement for Tactical Fouling
Rule 4.18
To delay an opponent taking a free kick or sideline kick by:
(a) Hitting or kicking the ball away and not returning the ball directly to an opponent on the full
(b) Not releasing the ball to the opposition, or
(c) Deliberately not moving back to allow a quick free or solo and go to be taken.
Rule 4.19
To interfere with a player taking a freekick, sideline kick or kickout by jumping up and down, waving hands, or any other physical or verbal interference considered by the referee to be aimed at distracting the player taking the kick.
Proposed Penalty:
Free kick 50m in the direction of the goal posts to a more advantageous position than the original kick – up to opponents' 13m line.
Jim Gavin explains the rationale
"We've got a number of current rules in the rule book, where if you purposely delay a free-kick or you hold on to the ball, the ball can be brought forward 30 metres.
"A lot of the survey responses have suggested bringing that up to 40 or 50 metres.
"We have a terminology called a tactical foul where a player deliberately fouls an opponent for the purposes of delaying play. If that happens in the game, what we're proposing is that the ball is brought forward 50 metres from the point where the foul occurred.
"It's a bit about respecting your opponent and part of the rule proposal is that you will have to hand the ball back to the player that you would have fouled in a prompt and respectful manner.
"You can't leave the ball on the ground, you can't give it back to the referee, you can't throw it in the air, you need to give the ball back.
"It really speeds the game up. I'll give the ball back to you and the player might take a solo and go and they're off again.
"It has been a very much a positive enhancement that we've already witnessed in our games."
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