Question Number: 17454

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/22/2007

RE: Classic Under 16

Bill Sayre of Greenwood, SC USA asks...

I was watching my daughter's game this weekend and an interesting exchange happened. Our attacker took a hard shot on goal and the ball appeared to hit the top corner of the goal mouth and bounce back out onto the field. One of the defenders grabbed the ball thinking it was a goal kick, although no signal from the CR or AR was made. The CR whistled (then), conferred with the lead AR and awarded a PK for deliberate handling inside the penalty area. The kick was successful, but then the trailing AR ran onto the field. The CR spoke with her and waived off the apparent goal and restarted with a goal kick.

Our parents were pretty upset, and as a "team referee" all I could suggest when asked was the AR had to clearly see the ball hit the rear corner of the frame. The mechanics were poor, but I applauded the crew for trying to get the call right even if it was to our detriment. This particular AR is inexperienced, and she was just too timid in trying to convey her information to the CR, at least at first.

My question is with respect to the PK itself. Once the CR whistles for the PK to begin, is the kicker's strike on the ball the restart of play, or is the restart an ensuing goal kick, a kickoff, or play naturally resuming when the keeper makes the save, depending on the outcome of the kick?

If I am on the officiating crew and a similar sequence occur, I want to make sure I make the right call and use the proper mechanics.

Thanks for your service to all us "weekend warriors" on the pitch!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Bill, you are correct that the PK is a restart, a point of no return as far as changing a call is concerned. Perhaps the new AR will now learn to be more assertive when it is needed.

Although just what the trail AR saw that made her think the PK was wrong confounds me. If the ball bounced off the goal and back onto the field, it was never out of play, and the PK would be correct. If the ball had completely crossed the line and hit some supporting structure of the goal and bounced back out, it would have been a goal in the first place.

The only possible explanation I can come up with is that this goal was a combined soccer/pointyball goal, and the ball hit the upright that defines pointyball field goals, not the soccer goal frame. In that case, it should have been a goal kick. But again, once the PK has been taken, the decision is too late.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Here is the Advice referees are given by US Soccer:

5.14 CHANGING A DECISION ON AN INCORRECT RESTART

If the referee awards a restart for the wrong team and realizes the mistake before the restart is taken, then the restart may be corrected even though the decision was announced after the restart took place. This is based on the established principle that the referee?s initial decision takes precedence over subsequent action. The visual and verbal announcement of the decision after the restart has already occurred is well within the Spirit of the Law, provided the decision was made before the restart took place.

You'll note the referee discovered the mistake AFTER he allowed the incorrect restart to be taken. This is a valid goal as far as the Law is concerned. The event should be explained in the match report and action may or may not be taken by the league.

The referee may not put this one right on the field once he has allowed the restart. Sometimes the stick holding the assistant's flag should be put to better use, for example thumping the referee upside the head until there is clarity in his decision or thinking. Although this is not a recommended mechanic for the assistant it would tend to stop some things from happening...

Wouldn't it?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Bill, I'm totally confused. The ball hits the goalpost or crossbar and bounces onto the field. WHy would ANYONE think this results in a goal kick? You use the term "goalmouth" but the bars that make up the goalmouth are part of the field. Given that the defenders were confused. The referee in the spirit of fair play should never have awarded a penalty kick in the first place.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Bill,
If the ball rebounded off the goal posts or crossbar supports that were off the field or part of the rugby or pointy ball type set up the only possible restart is a goal kick given your shooter was the last player to touch the ball. If the ball entered the goal over the goal-line between the posts and under the crossbar but hit the supports at the back of the net and came out, it is a goal. If the ball simply rebounded off the normal goal posts or support crossbar then the defender had no right to use his hands and as a deliberate handling action the Pk fits. Once the PK is taken given all the facts were in evidence it is too late to undo the wrong if indeed there was. The opposing team could offer a free goal to make up for it if they were so inclined but that is a choice for them. The referee could only report the mistake as such in his report and the league decides what if anything to do.
Cheers

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

See Question: 17499