Question Number: 18918

Mechanics 4/28/2008

RE: U12 through Adult Adult

Tracy Wilson of San Antonio, Texas USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16800

This question was addressed in a point paper, but I can't find it now. Can anyone provide a link to the paper that discusses obstructing the goalkeeper... Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The 2007 Instructions for Referees and Resolutions Affecting Team Coaches and Players mentions the issue in item #5 titled Offenses against goalkeepers. "It is an offense if a player: (c) who is standing in front of a goalkeeper when a corner kick is being taken, takes advantage of the position to impede the goalkeeper before the kick is taken and before the ball is in play." There are others that could apply in this section, depending on what is being done to impede the goalkeeper. If this is true for corner kicks, it is also true for any free kick going into the goal area. The new Additional Instructions issued by FIFA for 2007 as part of the newest issue of the Laws of the Game has under Law 12 in the "Offences against Goalkeepers" section: "It is an offence to restrict the movement of the goalkeeper by unfairly impeding him, e.g. at the taking of a corner kick."