Question Number: 15630

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/28/2007

RE: Travel Soccer, Competitive Under 11

Debra Keates of New York, New York USA asks...

In a tournament governed by FIFA rules, a U10 goalie, kicking the ball after making a save, steps just over the line of the box before releasing the ball. The referee calls for a direct kick.

The Laws of the Game state that a direct kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).

It was not the deliberate intention of the goalie to step just over the line.

Is it right to call this a deliberate handling of the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It most certainly WAS the intention of the keeper to step over the line as he did it. But, that's not the point. Did he carry the BALL over the line with his hands before releasing it? If he did, then by Law he has deliberately handled the ball outside of his own penalty area and this is punished by a direct free kick. However, referees doing U10 games are often inexperienced and don't realize they have the power NOT to call any infraction they deem trifling. Most of us would have a quiet word with the keeper and tell him to be more careful next time.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Debra,
a deliberate action may or may not be intentional in that the perpetrator did not MEAN to do it but did it none the less. As my colleague pointed out we generally derive little satisfaction in a gotcha call for a trivial or doubtful release of the ball into play.
For a DFK to be awarded against the keeper the entire ball must be carried in the hands completely outside the penalty area boundary lines.
Often when a keeper punts the ball it can look outside but the release point of the ball is not outside! It is ONLY the ball location that determines if there is or is not an infraction!
At this age level a warning could easily suffice. Only if the handling punt event is repetitive or blatant is there a need to see it as a DFK. Also remember that if indeed the ball is handled deliberately outside the boundaries the restart location must be RIGHT beside the boundary line just not touching it! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The referee made the correct decision, even though he probably should have let this one slide. This is called "gotcha" refereeing because I caught you making a trivial infringement of the laws so now I will punish you for it... "Got Ya!"

However in terms of the law the referee was 100% correct.

This gives me a chance to review the difference between intentional and deliberate. According to most dictionaries the words seem to be synonyms of one another however in terms of soccer language we look at it a little differently.

Intentional means that there had to be intent to violate the rules. No referee is ever going to be able to punish a foul as to judge intent requires mind reading.

Deliberate in our soccer language basically allows us to make an assumption as to intent without actually having to read a persons mind. Thus, we see an action that was done and judge it "prima facia". It is easy for us to see a player who has carried the ball in their hands and left the penalty area to be a deliberate action - they obviously held the ball and took the steps required to break law 12 which they could have avoided on their own, but did not. Perhaps it was not the players ultimate intent to violate the laws, but his actions did violate the laws which gives us enough evidence to punish the offense. Referees can't read minds, they can only call what they see.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee, before coming to this decision, must ask a number of questions and base his answers on what my colleagues have already said. Has the player done this before AND have we called it to his attention? Is the distance the ball is beyond the penalty area just a little bit? Are the field markings there to be seen easily or worn to the point they are nearly invisible? These are the proverbial flags that must fly before the referee sanctions the keeper unless he is more that a couple of meters into the outfield with the ball.

The referee crew must take steps to prevent the little excursions before sanctioning the keeper. The assistant, on a little excursion and after the ball has gone, yells out "Keeper, watch the line!" This advises the referee there is something amiss, it also gives the keeper adequate knowledge that people are watching and he just did something he shouldn't. When he does it again it is deliberate! That's when we should get involved; but if it's a little bit into the outfield the assistant still barks a warning, this time before the ball is kicked. Next time is a flag to the referee so he may get involved if he chooses to.

Regards,

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