1969 MEMORANDUM
The "Scissors" Kick: This is a clear example of the importance of judging an action according to the situation in which it is performed [rather than automatically considering it "dangerous play"]. A player who kicks or attempts to kick the ball in this way with no other player near him cannot be penalized for dangerous play. The same action with a player nearby would be very dangerous.
The use of the arm by players to hold off an opponent is increasing. Such action must be penalized as "Holding."
Whilst the obstruction law is generally well understood and applied, the following are aspects where lack of uniformity is apparent:
Playing Distance -- This is determined by whether the player concerned can play the ball at any given moment if he wishes to: if the ball is beyond his control in terms of distance and he is preventing his opponent from playing it, then he commits the offense of obstruction.
Charging from behind -- A player who obstructs his opponent but commits no offense because the ball is within his playing distance may be charged from behind. This means a charge in the region of the shoulder, but not in the back itself: any kind of charge near the spine is obviously very dangerous and is forbidden in all circumstances.
If the ball is in play and has been last played by an opponent before it reaches a player in an offside position, this player CANNOT be given offside. This is laid down in the law. Referees are advised that when the ball is played forward to the zone of play where a player is in an offside position, they should WHISTLE IMMEDIATELY and not await the outcome of the pass.
Referees are reminded that "dropping the ball" means holding it at waist level and removing the hand so that the ball drops to the ground. It should not be thrown down in any way.
The player taking the penalty-kick must remain inside the penalty area or ten-yard arc until the signal is given for the kick to be taken: after the signal he may then go outside the arc in order to take a longer run at the ball, though he cannot demand that opponents give him a clear path to do this.
A player taking the penalty-kick may try to deceive the goalkeeper as to his intentions, and such action is allowed. This is quite different from "trickery" when the player stops his kicking action in order to make the goalkeeper move in one direction, and then kicks it in the other. This is quite contrary to the spirit of the game and the player at fault should be cautioned and the kick re-taken if a goal has resulted. [See 1981 Memorandum, below, for clarification that the kick must be retaken regardless of the outcome.]
When free kicks are taken there is usually a number of players involved with no limitations imposed on the defenders except that they shall be ten yards from the ball, and free kick situations are often tactical maneuvers between attackers and defenders. It is therefore considered that deceiving tactics by the players taking the kick are just as acceptable as they would be in the general run of the game.
No player shall be treated for injury on the field of play. Where the injury to the player seems to be serious, the referee shall, if necessary, stop the game and signal for the trainer to come on the field and he will arrange for the removal of the player from the field. If a player requires minor treatment, he should notify the referee and leave the field to receive the treatment. [This was confirmed in Circular 534, 1994.]
Referees are asked to take firm action, if necessary by cautioning players who deliberately handle the ball to prevent a pass from reaching another player, or who handle an opponent to prevent him from reaching the ball.