Paphos People

Argentines introduce 'free-kick' spray

Thursday, December 11 2008, 18:08 GMT

By Simon Reynolds, Entertainment Reporter

The Argentine Football Association will introduce an aerosol spray to prevent defenders encroaching on free-kicks.

Starting next year, match officials in the first division will be able to mark a white line on the pitch ten yards from where the ball is placed, which defenders are not allowed to cross. The mark will disappear 30 seconds later.

The spray was invented by Pablo Silva, who came up with the idea after he failed to score from a free-kick in an amateur match.

Reuters quotes him as saying: "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.

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