FIFA's new white lines - now you see them, now you don't..!

[LBNo11]

FIFA have decided on the change they will apply to the next world cup. You know the one, the one that spoils football that little bit more. The one that makes you "what the heck, get on with it".
Referees will be using spray to make where free kicks should be taken from. Not sure if they will use a the same spray in a line marking barrow to mark where the wall at a free kick at stand or indeed paint brush or roller. The paint goes clear after a minute or three.

(taken from an excellent facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/Footballnostalgia/1416646821906161/?notif_t=group_activity )

[jarv]

Actually, it might speed up things, forcing the wall back quickly. If they don't retreat, a yellow is possible. Personally, I would like to see more free kicks taken quickly, before time wasting setting up walls.

[LBNo11]

Actually, it might speed up things, forcing the wall back quickly. If they don't retreat, a yellow is possible. Personally, I would like to see more free kicks taken quickly, before time wasting setting up walls.

...actually I agree, I'd rather watch action rather than inaction, I just would like to know how they measure the distance so that it is fair each time and for each side, what is the yardstick if you were...

[ToodlesMcToot]

It simplifies that whole process. They've used this in the Mexican Lge for a few years now. Ref sprays where the foul was committed, then walks off his ten paces - usually right past the wall - sprays another line for the wall to toe.

It does seem to speed things up. And there's a "make no bones about it" kind of message to the players. No more creeping up on the kick taker.

I never took the impression that it was robbing the game of anything.

[PokerMatt]

Saw this in the U21 (I think) tournament at the end of the summer. I was surprised how effective it was, almost as if the line would give the players a shock if they went in front of it.

Agree the measuring out could be a problem, but that's no different from now.

[ToodlesMcToot]

Saw this in the U21 (I think) tournament at the end of the summer. I was surprised how effective it was, almost as if the line would give the players a shock if they went in front of it.

Agree the measuring out could be a problem, but that's no different from now.

But measuring out isn't really a problem is it. The same ref is walking off the same 10 paces for each free kick. That part of it doesn't change from the present method. The only thing that changes is that it's obvious now to the ref where he originally placed the ball and the wall. The players don't have the ability to cheat as much in free kick situations.

[LBNo11]

Saw this in the U21 (I think) tournament at the end of the summer. I was surprised how effective it was, almost as if the line would give the players a shock if they went in front of it.

Agree the measuring out could be a problem, but that's no different from now.

But measuring out isn't really a problem is it. The same ref is walking off the same 10 paces for each free kick. That part of it doesn't change from the present method. The only thing that changes is that it's obvious now to the ref where he originally placed the ball and the wall. The players don't have the ability to cheat as much in free kick situations.

...I think we can usually recognise certain refs are prone to favour, how should we put it, the bigger teams, and the conjecture will remain whether such refs ten paces are larger or smaller to suit the top teams advantage. The technology to measure accurately preset distances using a laser beam does exist which would make such arguments invalid, we just have to wait for Blatter to have a shared interest in such a system...

[ToodlesMcToot]

Saw this in the U21 (I think) tournament at the end of the summer. I was surprised how effective it was, almost as if the line would give the players a shock if they went in front of it.

Agree the measuring out could be a problem, but that's no different from now.

But measuring out isn't really a problem is it. The same ref is walking off the same 10 paces for each free kick. That part of it doesn't change from the present method. The only thing that changes is that it's obvious now to the ref where he originally placed the ball and the wall. The players don't have the ability to cheat as much in free kick situations.

...I think we can usually recognise certain refs are prone to favour, how should we put it, the bigger teams, and the conjecture will remain whether such refs ten paces are larger or smaller to suit the top teams advantage. The technology to measure accurately preset distances using a laser beam does exist which would make such arguments invalid, we just have to wait for Blatter to have a shared interest in such a system...

I'm certain there is favoritism in the marking off of free kicks. Totally agree. The spray does offer value in that it removes the impact of favoritism in allowing certain teams to infringe on that ten paces.

[alfie]

this can also apply to throw in's, how many do we see that go out near the corner flag but by the time it's taken were on the 18 yard line.

[grandad]

They should do as they do in American football & have a chain gang to position the 10 yards. There is no way 2 different refs can accurately pace out the distance.

[fulhamben]

They should do as they do in American football & have a chain gang to position the 10 yards. There is no way 2 different refs can accurately pace out the distance.

They should do as they do in American football & have a chain gang to position the 10 yards. There is no way 2 different refs can accurately pace out the distance.

I don't know, you got the digital 10 yard circle come up on some games and the refs are pretty close everytime.

[bulgariawhite]

THIS DOESN'T TAKE AWAY WHETHER THE REF MADE THE RIGHT DECISION IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT i AGREE IT'S INTRODUCTION SHOULD BE MADE

[Sheepskin Junior]

For me, carrying the thing around would be a nightmare. However, it does reduce one smaller aspect of cheating in the 'beautiful' game (everybody cheer). As for pacing out, I think that each referee does it to the best of his or her ability, we're not supplied with a tape measure so it's a guess really

[HatterDon]

They were doing this in France a couple seasons back. It's a good idea and it won't harm the sod ...

... it might even help him.  :Get Coat gif:

[LBNo11]

They were doing this in France a couple seasons back. It's a good idea and it won't harm the sod ...

... it might even help him.  :Get Coat gif:

:005:  0001.jpeg

[jmh]

They've been doing this in MLS for a while now too.  It's great, no ambiguity about where the ball is supposed to be and where the wall is supposed to stand.

[stevehawkinslidingtackle]

Even if it does disappear after a few minutes, Stokes pitch will still look like a plasterers radio for 90mins every other Saturday.

[ToodlesMcToot]

Anyone who still doubts the value of this free kick spray need only look at Kasami's free kick and the full yard or so which the Norwich wall encroached into the free kick area after the ref blew his whistle. The ref watched the entire time and did nothing because it's accepted for some strange reason.

Served them right....the goal.

[Vinnieffc]

How long has Nigella Lawson been a FIFA Referee ???  :022:

[Still believe]

Seen this a few times in South American games... personally quite like it as the ball is often moved in freekicks & defenders edge forward, from what I've seen this makes these things clearer... whether the refs then act on this is a different matter!