TomThompson
New Member
I've played in a few games where/when a player has shouted "Mine" to declare his intension to play the ball, and the referee has then stopped the game and awarded a free kick. These decisions have been greeted without complaint or dissent. But reading the laws I wonder what infringement has occurred? "Verbally distracts an opponent" perhaps - listed as unsporting behaviour.
If "Verbally distracts" is the offence then I would then expect a call of "Mine" to be an infringement only if an opponent is close enough to challenge for the ball. If the call is only to warn a teammate, and no opposition players are proximate, it cannot be a distraction. This is not how I have witnesses these situations.
If "Verbally distracts" is the offence then I would then expect a call of "Mine" to be an infringement only if an opponent is close enough to challenge for the ball. If the call is only to warn a teammate, and no opposition players are proximate, it cannot be a distraction. This is not how I have witnesses these situations.