Question Number: 23341

Law 16 - Goal Kick 5/19/2010

RE: Select Under 18

Bruce of Vancouver, BC Canada asks...

Wonderful site. Keep up the great work!

I was watching a competitive mens' game last week on the local pitch, when the following situation occurred.

The red team keeper set up for a goal kick. He placed the ball on the left corner of the goal area (i.e., six yards out from the goal line and six yards to the left of the post). When the red keeper stepped up to kick it, he mis-hit the ball and it went, with some force, straight towards a blue team forward who was standing at the edge of the penalty area on the other side of the penalty arc.

The ball was a gift to the blue forward. Had the ball gotten all the way to him (and it would have), he had an open net and an easy goal.

However, an alert red team defender stepped into the penalty area to prevent the ball getting to the blue team forward, stopped the ball, and passed it back to the keeper - who retook the goal kick successfully.

Sounds right. The ball was never in play because it did not leave the penalty area. The keeper did not touch it a second time.

But could this be interpreted as unsporting behaviour? I am guessing not, but I had never seen this done before and I was curious to hear your comments.

Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You are correct, the goal kick must be retaken because it did not leave the penalty area directly.

It's not unsporting behavior; a teammate of the kicker is allowed inside the penalty area. But it could be construed as wasting time, delaying the restart of play.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bruce
It might look 'unsporting' but as Referee Voshol states the defender is allowed inside the penalty area on a goal kick. As the ball did not leave the penalty area it is not in play and the referee restarts the game with a goal kick.
The referee has to be certain that the ball did in fact not leave the PA before allowing the retake of the GK. Should the referee take any action against the defender. IMO no as the ball is not in play and unless it was done to waste time.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

One thing the referee and AR must watch for in circumstances where the attacker is very near the penalty area line is whether or not all of the ball crossed the outside edge of the penalty area before the attacker played it. Sometimes they are so anxious to play the ball, they go early, and we must restart with another goal kick.

In your scenario, the defender's actions were perfectly legal - the worst you could get him for was delaying the restart of play - but that is a huge stretch, and most likely not necessary.