Page:Football, The Association Game.djvu/94

 A ball touching a linesman or referee is not dead.

Flayers should remember that a ball is always in play after an appeal until a decision is given by the referee. Handling is strictly forbidden to any one but the goal keeper, and under the reservations above stated. Handling is wilfully playing the ball with the hand or arm. The interpretation of wilful, of course, rests with the referee. The referee has also the power where a player is intentionally tripped, charged from behind, held or pushed by an opponent within twelve yards from the opposite goal-line, to give a penalty kick, particulars of which will be found in Rule 14 (see p. 79).

The penalty kick, which was introduced in the season of 1891-2, has been a source of great anxiety to those who have to make the laws. It is the punishment for intentional infringement of Law 9 by the defending side within the penalty area. Rule 9 proscribes tripping, kicking, or jumping at a player, intentionally handling the ball, holding or pushing an opponent, or charging an opponent violently or dangerously, or charging from behind unless the player charged is intentionally obstructing an opponent. In other breaches of the rules the outcome is a free kick. In the latter case the free kick has to be taken from the place where the offence occurred, and no players of the opposing side are allowed to approach within six yards of the ball unless the ball is within six yards of the goal-line, behind which players are not required to stand. It is to be regretted, of course, that a condition of things should have arisen to make such a severely repressive measure as the penalty kick advisable. At the same time one is bound to admit that it has proved to be a necessity, and as its importance cannot be overrated, it looms largely in any outline of the actual play.