Question Number: 18967

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/2/2008

RE: Rec , Select High School

Bill Ark of Invermere, B.C. Canada asks...

---- No such thing as a dumb question? I've told players that if you are the most competitive, the only red card strategically correct is if you deliberately stop an obvious goal scoring opportunity by a foul in the late stage of a close game,-- but i say that it is in the poorest of sportmanship and not condonable ever. However if you deliberately attempt to stop a goal by such as a hand ball but the goal is still scores, is it a red card, no goal because the penalty occurred first, and a penalty shot awarded ? ; or, if the goal counts automatically ,what should the intentional ball handler receive ?.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Bill,
if there is an attempt to deny the goal but a referee correctly anticipates a favourable result and applys the advantage clause to allow for time for the ball entering the goal by delaying that whistle the goal is awarded he has done his duty to the laws, the players, the match and the spirit of the game itself.

There is NO red card because the criteria of DOGSO is no longer present ONCE the result of allowing play to continue results in a goal. It COULD be considered as USB for the attempt to deny same as any reckless venture. The restart after such a goal will be kick off and COULD be a caution show a yellow card to the player who TRIED but FAILED to deny the goal.

If a referee jumped in too early with a quick whistle before the ball had time to completely cross the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts after that foul of handles the ball deliberatly then a referee has NO choice but to NOT award the goal instead award the PK or (DFK if outside the area) and MUST show the red card if DOGSO criteria are met thus sending off the player reducing his side by one less.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Bill, DOGSO by definition is "denying" a goal scoring opportunity. In your case the goal scoring opportunity was not only NOT denied but a goal has been scored. So how could you penalize someone for something they did not do? No red card but maybe a cuation for unsporting behaviour.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Impeccable logic Bill, right up to the instant you read this:

If the referee applies advantage during an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and a goal is scored directly, despite the opponent?s handling the ball or fouling an opponent, the player cannot be sent off but he may still be cautioned.

It comes from the Additional Instructions and Guidance in the Laws of the Game, page 123.

Regards,

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

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