Question Number: 23667

Law 18 - Common Sense 7/13/2010

RE: Novice Adult

Ming of Sacramento, CA USA asks...

During the WC final, July 11, at about 33 minutes in, a kick from a Dutch player past midfield was deflected by the goalkeeper and bounced over the crossbar. The Dutch team was given a corner kick, and the ABC commentator said 'surely the Dutch won't try to get full value from this corner kick.' Sure enough, the Dutch player just tapped the ball to the opposing goalkeeper. The commentator then expressed his view that that was very sportsmanlike of the Dutch team.

What was going on?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Prior to this play, the Spanish goalkeeper had thrown or kicked the ball out of play so that his injured teammate could be attended to. The Netherlands did the accepted sporting thing and after the ball was thrown in, kicked it back to the goalkeeper. But the ball took a high bounce, and Casillas could barely reach it, tipping it out of bounds. On the resulting corner kick, Van Persie kicked the ball softly to Casillas to restore Spain's possession.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ming
It has become accepted practise that on an injury the ball is given back to the team in possession when it has been deliberately kicked out of play. When the ball was kicked back to the Spanish goalkeeper it was overkicked by the Dutch player and he had to stretch for the ball to prevent it perhaps going into the goal. It then went out for a corner kick. In the spirit of fair play Holland decided that it would be unfair to avail of the CK so the ball was given back to the Spanish GK and the game continued then as normal. Had it gone into the goal I suspect Holland would have had to allow Spain to score