Question Number: 23043

Law 5 - The Referee 3/30/2010

RE: Rec Under 15

Richard Boler of Omaha, Nebraska United States asks...

Our player took a shot that bounced off the goalies hands to another one of our players. The second player kicked the ball toward the goal and a second defensive player attempted to stop the ball with her hand, but the ball still went into the net. Should the goal have counted or should it have been wiped off the board and we been awarded a penalty kick?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Richard
This is indeed a goal if the referee plays advantage or delays the decision. If advantage is not played or play has been stopped for the deliberate handling it is a penalty kick and the player is dismissed for denying an obvious goal or goal scoring opportunity.
The 'best' result for the game is that a goal is scored with no dismissal. The attacking team has not been disadvantaged in that situation and the penalty can still be missed. The referee just has to be careful on playing an advantage that in fact it does accrue to the attacking team otherwise it should not be played.
If a goal is scored after the deliberate handling of the ball the player may still be cautioned. If she is on the goal line IMO it is most defintely a caution with a warning that had the ball not gone into the goal that she would have been dismissed.
This is what the Law states Law 12 P122
""If the referee applies advantage during an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and a goal is scored directly, despite the opponent?s handling the ball or fouling an opponent, the player cannot be sent off but he may still be cautioned.""

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Did the referee stop play? The best course for the referee in this situation is to wait and see what happens to the ball. If it enters the goal, award the goal. If it does not, award the penalty.

If the referee quickly blows the whistle, it is not a goal unless all of the ball has already crossed the goal line. The referee must award the penalty kick and punish (caution or sendoff) the defender as appropriate to the circumstances.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Coach, that depends if the referee blew her whistle before the ball went into the net. If she did, which is a mistake, the defender would be sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball and your team would be awarded a penalty kick.

The smart referee holds the whistle a second, sees that a goal is scored, awards the goal, cautions the defender for unsporting behavior and restart with a kick off