Question Number: 21666

Law 17 - Corner Kick 7/19/2009

RE: Rec, Competitive U11 to men and women Adult

Rattan of Ottawa, ON Canada asks...

Contact between forward and defending GK on corner kicks.

Attacker's arm making contact with GK's body/face as both go up for ball, specially when the GK is coming from behind attacker to punch the ball away.

Is it incidental contact, or a foul? Assume, attacker is not making excessive arm movement to injure GK.

I enjoy this foruma nd look forward to your repsonses.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I guess you have to ask yourself why was the attackers arm in contact with the keeper especially if the contact was to the keeper's head and the keeper was behind the attacker. If the attacker was playing the keeper and using his arm in such a manner as to inhibit the keeper's ability to get to the ball, we have a foul of some sort. Certainly impeding comes to mind or if the contact is more then minimal, holding is a consideration. If the attacker carelessly or recklessly throws his arm up and makes contact with the keeper's head, we may have a more serious offense with the possibilities of a caution or even a sending off. Much of this will depend on the age and skill levels of the players. A professional player's elbow ends up in a keeper's face we probably are looking at a send off. If this happened between 2 U12 players probably not.

On the other hand, if both players are playing the ball we may have nothing more than incidental contact.

Lastly, there's the possibility that the keeper is late getting to the ball and he may have initiated what would be unfair contact with the attacker.

At the taking of a corner, the referee has to watch the action before the kick is taken to help him analyze anything that happens after the kick. If the attacker is obviously moving with the keeper before the kick is taken, referee intervention either verbally or with a caution may head off more serious action later. Of course, the referee has the difficult task of watching not only the keeper but the players around him and to judge within a few seconds with an incredible flurry of activity going on if there is any foul play. While the corner kick is one of the most interesting and exciting aspects of soccer it is also one of the most if not the most difficult aspects to referee.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

This can be difficult to judge. Factors to consider:

Before contact, did the attacker impede the keeper? If the attacker takes a position in front of the keeper before the corner kick and doesn't move, the attacker is entitled to her position. But, often, the attacker is there to prevent the keeper from getting to the ball. The attacker dancing in front of the keeper when the ball is not in playing distance is often impeding. Is the attacker looking at the ball and moving to play the ball? Is the attacker playing the keeper?

On a high cross or corner, the keeper has at least a 2 foot advantage (the right to extend the arms). Attackers know this, and usually have to cheat to win the ball unless they start in a better position. If the two players are moving toward the spot, the attacker is likely going to foul the keeper; if the attacker is already in position, the attacker isn't.

Being the keeper is not an excuse to charge the attacker in the air. If the keeper is late, the keeper will make contact with the back of the attacker before getting near the ball. When keepers want to send a message to the attacker, they often will aim their elbows at the back of the opponent's head.

Sometimes, the contact is incidental and just soccer.

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

See Question: 21678