Question Number: 19770

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/19/2008

RE: competive High School

don mcconnell of cleveland, ohio usa asks...

goalie going for the ball in the penalty box either in the air or on the ground attacker runs in attempting to kick the ball or win it in the air
runs into the keeperor by accident kicks goalie in hand or face is there a call for this

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Beginning July 1, Law 12 says, 'A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
? kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
? trips or attempts to trip an opponent
? jumps at an opponent
? charges an opponent
? strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
? pushes an opponent
? tackles an opponent'

If the referee feels the tackle (running into the keeper) or the kick was careless, a foul would be called. It also might be seen as a push, or as you mention 'in the air' as jumping at the keeper. It could also simply be a collision, the case of two bodies attempting to occupy the same space at the same time, and no foul would be called.

If the foul was deemed reckless a caution should be added, and if done with excessive force the player should be sent off.

In prior years FIFA would have called running into the keeper, 'tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball'; the Law was changed effective July 1, 2008. Since NFHS rules which govern high school games in the US typically lag FIFA Law changes, I suspect this or something similar still appears in the NFHS rules.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

In a USA high school match played under NFHS Soccer Rules flagrantly fouling the goalkeeper is cause for a disqualification [sending-off] without warning.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

This is the referees discretion. Without seeing the foul it is hard to say. Basically, if the player ramming into the keeper made no effort to play the ball and it was flagerant, then it could be a disqualification from the match to the guilty player. If the keeper ran or dove into the path of the attacker, then it maybe was his fault and there would be no action taken by the referee.

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

See Question: 32708