Question Number: 14436

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/14/2006

RE: Adult

Giles Brereton of williamston, Michigan US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 14289

I was interested in one of your referee's answers to this question, because I was given a different answer at a recertification clinic. The question is: A goalkeeper takes a goal kick. The ball leaves the penalty area (and so is in play), hits the referee and bounces back towards the goal. Can the goalkeeper legally play the ball (because it has hit a moving object---the referee) or would he be penalized for playing it because he would have then played it a second time?

Presumably if the ball bounced directly from the referee into the net, a goal would be awarded.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If keeper touches ball, then it is a IFK for the opposition. If the keeper lets it go in the goal, then it is NOT a GOAL as a goal cannot be scored against yourself on a goal kick. The restart then would be a corner kick.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Interesting variation on re-certification clinics, you went to one and were given incorrect information. Around here very few attend and don't get good or bad information. I wonder??!

How can the ball hitting the referee even be considered as hitting another player? Hitting the referee is like hitting the grass, the air, either goal post, the corner flag, an assistant on the field or the crossbar. I suppose, using the same logic, if the ball hit a dog running across the field of play things would continue because it hit a moving object.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Giles. What were you told? the keeper may not play or touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player. Last I checked, the referee is NOT a player. Award an IFK. Why would you award a goal if the ball went into the net? One cannot score upon oneself directly on any restart including a goal kick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Giles,
It is a bit disturbing to hear that incorrect information is being interpreted or taught from any type of referee clinic

law 9 Ball In Play

The ball is in play at all other times, including when:

? it rebounds from either the referee or an assistant referee when
they are on the fi eld of play
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On the goal kick it has a stipulation that for the ball to to be IN play it must first cross outside the PA boundry lines

Law 16 Goal Kick

Procedure
? the ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player
of the defending team
? opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play
? the kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched
another player
? the ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area
Infringements/Sanctions
If the ball is not kicked directly into play beyond the penalty area:
? the kick is retaken
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Once the bal is outside the boundrylines on that goal kick the ball is live and upon contacting the referee it is no different than hitting a goal post, flag or crossbar deflecting back onto the field play on. We often refer to the referee figuratively as a match condition
as in compared to weather or pitch surface players must adapt too but it is also taken literally as the referee is a fixture of the field of play!
Also for some added information are you aware that the SAME criteria as a goal kick apply to ANY defending free kick from within a defender's own penalty area

Law 13 Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area

Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team:
? all opponents are at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball
? all opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in
play
? the ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty
area
? a free kick awarded in the goal area is taken from any point inside
that area
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One cannot directly score upon oneself and a deflection of the ball directly from the goal kick off the referee is still direct in nature as he is NOT a player only a fixture of the field that in my opinion is in sore need of some mechanic/positioning lessons .
So when the ball deflects into the goal off the referee no goal, corner kick is the correct restart!
If the keeper's goal kick after contacting the referee was to be played again by the keeper, thus yes,
it could count as a second touch, indfk restart for the opposition from that point of contact


LAW 13 Ball Enters the Goal

? if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team?s own goal, a
corner kick is awarded to the opposing team

? if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team?s own goal,
a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team
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Cheers