We all know the flip-throw and the classic free-kick fake trick plays. They’re the tried-and-true theatrics that flirts with the rules without ever overstepping the mark. Apparently, one team now wants to add another trick to the list: the Maypole.
Ray High School’s varsity soccer team bamboozled everyone when they decided to literally do a lap around the back of the goal during a corner kick and re-enter the field to head the ball past an understandably confused goalie.
Their audacity must be applauded, but should they have been allowed to reap the rewards?
Law 12.3 states that a “player must be cautioned and shown a yellow card if he or she is guilty of:
entering, re-entering or deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee’s permission”
I can’t imagine the referee gave those four players the thumbs up to dance around the figurative maypole on this occasion.
If he did, maybe we should be checking his TAB account.
The laws also go on to mention that a player must be cautioned for “unsporting behaviour” when they show “a lack of respect for the game.”
This is a broad rule that’s left to the referee’s interpretation. So, did the referee think this was in the spirit of the game?
Now to be fair, the goal was eventually overturned and the four players were indeed cautioned. But the ref’s initial decision to award the goal still has us scratching our heads.
Maybe he was just as confused as the opposition defence as to what was actually happening.
Is this a fair goal or a clear obstruction of the rules? Let us know in the comments.
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