Question Number: 22050

Law 16 - Goal Kick 9/22/2009

RE: Travel Under 13

Len of park ridge , nj usa asks...

on a goal kick a player from the team kicking the ball jumped over the 18 and hit the ball with his hand. The question is: is it a hand ball in the box resulting in a penalty kick or do they get to rekick the ball since it never crossed the 18?
the ref called a hand ball stating 'what would stop a teammate from purposely knocking down a ball before it crosses the 18 if he believes the goalie made a bad kick...'

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 16 says, "The ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area." And: "If the ball is not kicked directly out of the penalty area from a goal kick: ? the kick is retaken." If it hasn't left the penalty area, it's not in play, so no fouls can be committed. The goal kick has to be retaken.

As for the ref asking what will stop players from doing this on purpose? How about that little piece of yellow plastic. The player could be cautioned for unsporting behavior or delaying the restart of play.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

This is one of there is no choice in the restart! IF the ball was not in play this MUST be retaken. As my colleague Ref Volshal correctly points out there is no foul, ONLY misconduct which is ALWAYS punishable if in your opinion it is required! It could be considered as USB or delaying the restart shows a yellow card.
If it was close and the referee felt the ball had left the area even if it did not, he could only award a DFK from just outside the boundary line as his opinion would hold on to the fact the ball had left the area.
Why a player might do that is a poor kick headed to an opponent just outside the boundary line eagerly awaiting a chance to blast it right back at the goal!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi len
On a goal kick the ball must leave the penalty area for it to be in play. In this case the ball has not left the penalty area so it cannot be a free kick. The goal kick is retaken.
Also I would ask the question why the player handled the ball in this manner. This would make my mind up what if any disciplinary action I would take against the player.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Can't be a foul as the ball was never put in play. On a goal kick or ANY kick leaving the penalty area, the ball is not in play until it has left the penalty area. If any player touches the ball before it leaves the penalty area the kick is retaken. Remember that for a foul to happen:
1. It must be against an opponent (or opposing team when deliberately handling the ball)
2. It must happen on the field of play and
3. The ball must be in play.
If the referee felt the player had acted illegally to prevent a bad kick, then he should have cautioned the player and shown him a yellow card. By awarding a penalty kick, this referee has now made the game protestable because he has misapplied the Laws Of The Game by awarding a penalty kick when the ball was not in play.