The Red team has been awarded a free kick near midfield and elects to put the ball in play quickly. The ball strikes Blue #5 who is stationary approximately 6 yards from the site of the kick. The referee must stop play and caution Blue #5.
False-ussf advice to referees (2008) 13.3 states an attacking team may exercise its
right to take a free kick when the players see an advantage to do so even with an
opponent closer than the minimum distance. however, they may not thereafter claim
infringement of the distance requirement if the ball is kicked to an infringing
oppponent who is able to control the ball without moving toward it. in such a case,
because the attacking side has considered the encroachment trivial, the referee must
accept what he or she has seen. (emphasis in original text) if blue #5 had, in the
words of the advice to referees, perform[ed] an act that makes a difference in the
play, such as blocking the kick, that player has committed an offense that must be
dealt with firmly in accordance with the law. that would be a caution for failure to
respect the required distance on a free kick.