Question Number: 18524

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/12/2008

RE: Competitive Under 18

Steve Shuler of Bryant, AR USA asks...

I understand that a goalkeeper in possession of the ball may bounce it on the ground during the six seconds he or she has to release it back into play. But are those bounces protected?

I was watching a U17 match where the goalkeeper rushed out from his line to gather the ball. He ended up taking possession around the penalty mark, but in doing so, he passed an attacking player, who was now behind him and out of his sight. The keeper fails to check behind him. He holds the ball for a couple of seconds while everybody (except that last attacker) runs upfield. Then he bounces the ball in preparation to release it, but as the ball hits the ground, the attacker steps in from behind without making contact with the keeper, steals the bounce and puts it in the net. The referee on the field allowed the goal, to the natural furor of the opposing team. I couldn't find out if that's the right call, so I'm asking you all. Can an attacker steal the ball when the goalkeeper bounces it on the ground?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It depends on when you saw the match in question. For one year, IFAB had an entry in the old "Questions & Answers" publication that allowed this. The next year it was reversed. If the game took place during that year, allowing the goal would be proper.

In 2007 IFAB discontinued publication of a separate Q&A document, and put most of the answers into the "Additional Instructions" portion of the Laws of the Game (FIFA version - USSF elected not to print the extra information).

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

This appears to be an incorrect decision on the part of the referee, quite possibly protestable, as the player cannot steal the controlled bounce, not during the six seconds of unchallengeable possession, it is an indfk out with a warning or even a caution show a yellow card to the attacker. However if the bounce goes awry say off a toe or a bad piece of ground and rolls away that ball is free to be played by an opponent because it is no longer a controlled possession. Bouncing the ball is not a good idea although it is tolerated as an idiosyncrasy by nervous keepers. As long as the bounce is within a controlled manner the keeper/ball cannot be challenged. That said if the ball is deadened say upon hitting a water logged pitch and the bounce fails we might allow the keeper to regrab the ball and continue the six seconds as it is not truly a release into play if such an incident is not pivotal to the match outcome. However, if there was an opponent nearby to take advantage of this momentary loss of control such a regrab could be easily be classified as a second touch and thus an indfk for the attackers.
As a coach I tell my keepers DO NOT bounce the ball, it is far more secure to hold it and go to the edge of the penalty area to release it by way of a punt or throw as circumstances dictate.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

As of now a controlled bounce may not be interfered with, as this is considered "interfering with the goalkeeper releasing the ball into play". That is punished with an indirect free kick.

There was a time when this was permitted, however. So it depends on when this match happened.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

This was one of the things dropped on the world of Football by FIFA's Q@A 2004 1 July 2004. It has since been rethought and removed from things player are permitted to do.

We used to have a saying in the Marine Corps that covered things of this nature. "The word came forth from above and the word was good and the word changed and it was good". It meant sometimes the higher-ups have it all bollixed up but you still have to do it their way until they come to their senses and get it right...

Regards,