Argentines use 'free-kick' spray

Father Ted · 11 Dec 2008 at 11:18

The Argentine Football Association is to introduce an aerosol spray to stop defenders creeping closer to the ball during a free-kick.

From next year, referees will use the spray in first division matches.

Referees will mark a temporary white line 9.15 metres (10 yards) from the ball, which defenders cannot cross. The spray will disappear 30 seconds later.

Pablo Silva, who invented the spray, got the idea when he failed to score with a free-kick at an amateur match.

"In the 88th minute, we were losing 1-0 and won a free-kick on the edge of the area. When I took the kick, the wall was three metres away," he told Reuters earlier this year.

"The referee didn't book anyone and didn't do anything," he said.

"We lost the game, and driving home later, with a mixture of anger and bitterness, I thought that we must invent something to stop this."

The spray has been given a trial in second division matches and a similar spray has been used in some competitions in Brazil.

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7776602.stm

This sounds like a really good idea, wonder what the chances of it ever being trialled over here are.

Slogan · 11 Dec 2008 at 11:24

This has been in use for ages. It's a good idea so it'll probably not be or take forever to actually be implemented.

Lead_Head · 11 Dec 2008 at 11:49

Err, surely you could just get the ref's to mark a line with the studs of there boots in the turf at the edge of the wall. It does the same thing surely?

I've seen refs do this before (studs), and worked very effectively.

Fubsy · 11 Dec 2008 at 11:57

Lead_Head said:
Err, surely you could just get the ref's to mark a line with the studs of there boots in the turf at the edge of the wall. It does the same thing surely?

I've seen refs do this before (studs), and worked very effectively.

Not very nice to the poor groundsmen is it though?

Helium_Junkie · 11 Dec 2008 at 12:02

And much less visible.

Morba · 11 Dec 2008 at 12:08

Lead_Head said:
Err, surely you could just get the ref's to mark a line with the studs of there boots in the turf at the edge of the wall. It does the same thing surely?

I've seen refs do this before (studs), and worked very effectively.

but that line doesnt then dissapear. this spray one does. much more visible for official and for camera/fans

nikebee · 11 Dec 2008 at 12:11

Slogan said:
This has been in use for ages. It's a good idea so it'll probably not be or take forever to actually be implemented.

Sort of what I thought.

Good idea, like it myself.

I wouldn't be on it being implemented over here though.

Shamikebab · 11 Dec 2008 at 12:14

Good idea!

Lead_Head · 11 Dec 2008 at 12:16

Fubsy said:
Not very nice to the poor groundsmen is it though?

It's no worse that what a slide tackle would do to be honest.

_Jimlad_ · 11 Dec 2008 at 12:24

how's he gonna carry it around? in his top pocket?

Fubsy · 11 Dec 2008 at 13:16

Lead_Head said:
It's no worse that what a slide tackle would do to be honest.

A slide tackle is part of the game though, intentionally sticking and dragging studs into the pitch isn't. I used to mental with the guys in my footy team that stood around the pitch destroying it with their studs while waiting for injuries, subs, corners, etc. It's just not on.

Morba · 11 Dec 2008 at 13:23

Lead_Head said:
It's no worse that what a slide tackle would do to be honest.

i never used to put my studs hard into the ground so that i could slide better.....

Lead_Head · 11 Dec 2008 at 14:10

Most ref's wear either Copa Mundial style boots or astro turf trainers, it won't tear up the pitch to the epic proportions you are making out.

How many free kicks near the box are there in a game? Probably 3 or 4 on average? The pitch will be ruined - deary me!

Morba · 11 Dec 2008 at 14:18

but it will damage it, where as this spray wont.
besides, what happens when a 2nd freekick is given and another line marked with a boot 2 foot further back?
the team can then cheekily try to move forward to the first line, bringing them closer.

PNE · 11 Dec 2008 at 14:39

It's a good idea, I reckon it will work.

Did anyone see the Hull v Man City match a couple of weeks back? Hull were taking a free kick about 25 yards out, and the Man City players ended up about 5 yards away from the kick taker! The ref booked two of them, and had Hull re-take the free kick - twice! That a proper way to do things, if they do something wrong, book them. No respect for refs these days.

Lead_Head · 11 Dec 2008 at 14:40

If the ref has any sense then he'll know which line he marked the second time. It says in the article the paint only lasts 30 seconds, it takes longer for a free kick to be taken than 30 seconds, the paint will have dissapeared before it fits it's purpose.

To be honest both points are valid but I see it as a waste of money when the ref can simply make a mark in the turf no bigger than half a yard to point out the 10 yard line.

Greenlizard0 · 11 Dec 2008 at 14:55

If the paint really does disappear quickly then I don't see a problem with it. Most ref's pull the wall back to the required distance anyway..

Weebull · 11 Dec 2008 at 14:58

Lead_Head said:
It says in the article the paint only lasts 30 seconds, it takes longer for a free kick to be taken than 30 seconds, the paint will have dissapeared before it fits it's purpose.

It might take longer to set the free kick up, but from the point of the ref measuring the distance out and lining everyone up, it shouldn't take more than 30 seconds to blow the whistle and take the kick.

nikebee · 11 Dec 2008 at 15:29

PNE said:
It's a good idea, I reckon it will work.

Did anyone see the Hull v Man City match a couple of weeks back? Hull were taking a free kick about 25 yards out, and the Man City players ended up about 5 yards away from the kick taker! The ref booked two of them, and had Hull re-take the free kick - twice! That a proper way to do things, if they do something wrong, book them. No respect for refs these days.

Aye was thinking of that myself.

It kept on happening to be fair, after the second or third retake I think the ref just gave up and let the wall encroach on the kick.

It happens a lot.

I don't see this spray being used with every single freekick, but it would be useful is situations like we had in the Hull vs Man City game.

Bubo · 11 Dec 2008 at 16:36

How about some handy pocket sized land mines. The ref simply sprinkles a few in front of the wall. The defenders can encroach if they want but at the expense of their limbs. Would have to be special land mines though, that deactivate and automatically return to the refs pocket on the sound of a whistle. Whistle activated homing landmines if you will.