Question Number: 14738

Law 5 - The Referee 1/24/2007

RE: Grade 8 ref. Other

Bibi of Modesto, California US asks...

Here's a situation for you!
An attacker takes a shot, a field player from the opponent team (not the keeper)tries to stop the ball with hands, but the ball still hits the net.
What do you do?!?!
I feel this should be a no goal, red card for the defender who touched the ball intentionally, and a penalty kick for the team that scored (previous goal not allowed).

thanks!BB

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Bibi,
actually if a defender (except a keeper within his own area) attempts to deny a goal by deliberately using the hands but fails to stop the ball from scoring has only comitted misconduct worthy of a yellow card and cautioned for the USB!

Note FIFA Q&A 22. A player tries to prevent the ball entering the goal by deliberately handling it. The ball, however, enters the goal. What action does the referee take?
He awards the goal and cautions the player for unsporting behaviour.

Under LAW 5 the referee can play ADVANTAGE
allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time;

If the referee can delay the whistle to await a result as too early a whistle stops play before the ball enters the goal then you will have to award the dfk or pk and send off the player for dogso!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Apply ADVANTAGE and allow the goal. Issue a caution to the guilty attacker after ball goes in goal. If you stop play here, then you MUST send off attacker and award a PK or dfk to opponents. Both teams will be mad. 1 team cause you took away a goal and the other cause they have 1 less player for remainder of game.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Please don't tell me you're a Grade 8 referee and think disallowing a goal is a good thing and replacing it with a pk! You allow advantage and the goal is good. You may caution the player deliberately handling the ball if you want to. Only if you've already blown your whistle before the goal was scored should you call back the goal. There is NOTHING as advantageous to a team as a goal. Surely they taught you when to apply advantage at your Grade 8 course.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

What do I do?!?! -- Advantage sounds like a good solution.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 14759