Question Number: 21915

Law 1- The Field 9/7/2009

RE: grade 8 Adult

Joseph of Tracy, Ca. USA asks...

if the net of a goal is pulled very tight and almost straight down, and a shot on goal is made with the ball not touching the cross bar or posts, should it be scored a goal if the ball hits only the net and rebounds out before completely crossing the goal line? This happened in an adult league game last weekend. Please advise and support with any rulings . Thank you kindly.

Joe

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The laws of the game state that a goal is scored when the ball crosses the goal line, under the crossbar and between the posts.

In this case, if the net stops the ball crossing the line then no goal has been scored.

However, if I was the referee in the middle and something like this had occurred, I might (mistakenly) believe it had crossed the line - it's a bit difficult to make decisions concerning distances of a few centimetres unless you're in a perfect position.

The match should not have started with the nets in a position where they can affect play - if the net was pulled tight, then this suggests that they had pegs. So why wasn't the net pegged back, like it should have been?

It makes no sense to have the net pulled tight that close to the goal line. Also, it isn't unusual for a player to stumble back into the goal as he's clearing the ball, thus saving a goal - having the net in this fashion interferes with this possibility.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Law 10 states a legal goal the ball must fully cross the goal line under the crossbar between the posts with no infringement by the team who scores!
Nets are optional but maybe required by competition bylaw!
If the netted area is incorrectly attached as to prevent a legal goal fix them BEFORE the match.
The referee has made himself a hole by starting the match with the nets as they were! Then promptly fell in and dug his self deeper by having to decide if a goal was or was not scored!

The referee if awarding the goal had better not say, it did not cross the goal line.
The referee if not awarding the goal had better say it did not cross the goal line.
As a fact of play the match decision could likely stand even if one team might protest if it was awarded or was not awarded!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I simply cannot visualize this. The net is attached to the BACK of the goalposts and crossbar. How could a tight net prevent a ball from crossing all of the goal line? But, I have no imagination so I'll take your word that this did happen. Law 10 is clear, unless all of the ball crossed over all of the line between the goalposts and under the crossbar in accordance with Law 10, there can be no goal. You say the ball never crossed over the goal line completely. Hence, no goal.