Argentine refs armed with special spray

• by Soccer America , Jul 18, 2008

[REF WATCH] Referees in the Argentine second division will be equipped with more than just a whistle and cards when the next season kicks off. The Argentine federation has decided to outfit its referees with a vanishing white spray, too. Officials will use the spray, which disappears within a minute, to keep walls 10 yards away from the ball during free kicks.

Product inventor Pablo Silva believes the visual cue will reduce player encroachment. "This could help put an end to the practice of walls moving forward in football," he explained.

Silva developed the spray when he grew frustrated playing against team's who inched toward the ball on set pieces. Recalling one particular game, he commented, "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 meters away. The referee didn't book anyone and didn't do anything."

Silva hopes the disappearing spray will allow the game to flow more naturally, "This can contribute to enforcing the current rules and improve the time that the ball is in play."