Question Number: 21761

League Specific 8/9/2009

RE: Rec Adult

Greg of Chicago, IL United States asks...

This is during an indoor soccer game similar to a hockey rink. A direct kick is awarded outside the penalty box. Two defenders make up the wall 3 yards away while an attacker positions himself inside the penalty box to the left of the goalie (maybe about 3-4 feet away). The attacker never moves during the whole play. The kick is taken and goes by the wall and to the left of the goalie. The goalie jumps for the ball but crashes into the attacker. The ball goes into the goal and ref signals a goal. The goalie argues that he was obstructed while the ref says he wasn't. Who is right?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The ref is right of course. Even if he happened to be incorrect.

Not knowing what kind of rule modifications your hockey/soccer hybrid may have, I can only answer per FIFA Laws of the Game.

Since the attacker never moved, the goalkeeper cannot claim he was impeded. (And shouldn't claim obstruction, since that term was replaced over a decade ago.) Impeding involves moving into the path of an opponent, not simply being in the path of an opponent. I can't get into your way, but I don't have to get out of your way.

You never say, but if the stationary attacker was in an offside position, it may have been interfering with an opponent. We'd have to see it to be sure.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Nobody has more right a piece of real estate on the field of play then any other player. Impeding is a motion thing. A player can stand still all day long and never impeded.
But all this is immaterial; the ref is always right. He says no impeding, case closed, no impeding.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Every player has a right to stand on his blade of grass. That doesn't mean he can deliberately run into a player's path then stop in front of him, but it does mean he is entitled to stand there at a free kick.

Considering it's indoor soccer, I'll take a guess and say that there is no offside?

In which case by your description I would say the referee is probably correct in allowing the goal to stand.

Keep in mind that if the keeper had charged the attacker to get to the ball, it may well have been a penalty against your team.