Question Number: 24425

Law 5 - The Referee 12/15/2010

RE: Adult

Tony of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24411

Panel,

I know your answers regarding the ball being touched by the hand of a goalkeeper from a Teammate throw -in is the answer given in the FIFA Q&A. Goal plsy the advantage.

However there is no advantage to be played.

A team mate may not score against himself at a throw - in. So there is no advantage to be had by the opposing team. So it should be an IDFK. Otherwise without the touch on the hand it would be a corner.

Yes, I know this is strange because if the keeper touched it with any other part of his body and the ball enters the goal it would be a goal. If he touches it with his hands it is an IDFK.

Do you agree really there is no advantage to be had in this situation because it you take away this foul a corner would be the outcome?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

When the goalkeeper touches the ball before it goes in the net, the goal is no longer scored directly. That touch could be legal (leg, head, etc.) or illegal (hands). It doesn't matter, it's a touch. Once a touch has been made, there is an advantage to be applied - the goal.

If the keeper handled the ball outside the penalty area, it would be a DFK foul if the was no advantage to be applied. But it wouldn't have been Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) because absent the foul, there would have been no goal to be scored. Perhaps this is the situation you are thinking of.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tony
The same argument could be made for the IDFK that is kicked directly towards goal and deflects off the goalkeeper into the goal or the throw in that the goalkeeper touches with his foot from a throw in. There is no offence yet if the ball was left it would be a goal kick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLawwFbGWS0&NR=1
The Laws state 'allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage'
In the scenario an offence has happened which should be punished yet by allowing an advantage the benefit is a goal.
Part of playing any game is to know the Laws and to make choices. In the question the GK could have chosen not to play the ball but chose for whatever reason to touch the ball with the hands perhaps to stop a cross, under pressure from an opponent, did not know the laws etc. The referee has two choices which is to stop play to punish the offence or to play advantage. Could you imagine a situation where a team would prefer an IDFK instead of a goal on an advantage? The attacking team will expect that a goal will be awarded.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The question is whether the referee should stop play. Stopping play in this instance only helps the team that infringed the law. Not stopping play allows the innocent party to score a goal. That IMO, explains why the advantage must be allowed.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Keep it simple. Once the keeper touches the ball, a goal may be scored. NO ONE may score directly on a throw-in but now since the ball has been touched, a goal may be scored.

You are the opposing team. Would you rather have an IDFK from the 6 yard line or a goal?