Question Number: 22152

Law 5 - The Referee 10/4/2009

RE: rec Under 19

andrew of monroe, michigan monroe asks...

Defensive player deliboratly handled the ball in the penaltY area with an obvious goal scoring Oppertunity. Ball went into the net. Is it a red card or yellow?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Just remember that if the referee blows his whistle as soon as he sees the handling violation, play has stopped. Then the referee looks foolish but has to take away the goal, send off the defender for DOGSO and restart with a penalty kick. With fouls inside the penalty area it is always wise to hold the whistle a few seconds to see what happens.

What should have happened is the referee saw the handling, held his whistle, saw the ball go into the net, award the goal, caution the defender for unsporting behavior and restart with a kick off.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Andrew
Referees Dawson and Wright have provided the answer in law.
In these situations it is helpful just to delay the whistle slightly just in case the ball ends up in the goal either directly or indirectly. The referee then has the easier decision to make of awarding a goal and a caution rather than a penalty and a dismissal if he stops play before the goal is scored.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

If you apply advantage from what appears to be a foul that denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity, then you are stating that the goalscoring opportunity has not actually been denied but still remains - after all, if that wasn't the case then you wouldn't be applying advantage.

If the ball goes into the net after a defender deliberately handles it in an effort to stop it going in - that is, the defender tried to deny the obvious goalscoring opportunity - then that defender is still to be cautioned (this was the approach taken by the Questons and Answers to the Laws of the Game, issued by FIFA in 2006) for USB. He hasn't denied the OGSO, but he's attempted to - and the clearly unsporting act still needs punishment to deter him from doing it again (and potentially earn a red card next time).

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If the goal is scored and no infringement by the team scoring or too early a referee whistle the DH foul had a correct application of advantage as referee pat your self on the back, award the goal, restart kick off after cautioning the defender for USB if so desired!
NO DOGSO NO send off !
Cheers