Ref Watch Oxford Utd V Exeter City 1/1/2023 L1 Darren Drysdale

[Oslernorth]

I never realised it was indirect freekick for holding the ball for too long, I thought it was just a booking.
Just checked the rules, quite simple really .... "An indirect freekick will be awarded if the goalkeeper controls the ball with his hands for more than 6 seconds before releasing it"
So it begs the obvious question, WHY, as this occurs every game does the ref not award more indirect free kicks. It is quite simple for the ref to count to six, slowly, no need to book the goalie, just award an indirect free kick. The rule is simple to understand, there is no ambiguity, so just enforce it.

It was also interesting the free kick was awarded outside the box. I wonder if the referee assumed the ball was handled by the keeper outside the box?

 

[werthersoriginal]

I thought he was excellent , he let the game flow and the ball was in play far more than in most of our matches, in my perception. We still couldn’t score though.