Question Number: 2452

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

RE: Metro (Select) Adult

Chris McLaren of York, England asks...

We have three incidents which we discussed at our recent RA meeting, and were a bit unsure on the decision we would come up with: ..1) The goalkeeper loses his boot, and it stops inside the goal area. The opposition take a shot, and it hits the boot and goes wide (it was goal-bound) ..2) The goalkeeper in attempting to stop a back pass, fly-kicks at the ball, and the boot flies off and hits the ball and goes wide of the goal. ..3) The goalkeeper, having losing his boot, picks it up and throws it at the goal-bound ball which deflects it over the crossbar. ..Incident 1) actually happened in a match - 2) and 3) were additional scenarios which people brought up. ..We have our joint RA answers which most of us agree with. ..Thanks in anticipation!

Answer provided by Referee Dawson

Hi Chris,..thanks for the confidence I hope I do not let you down...(1) Accidental lost boot, tough luck, goal kick!..(2) Accidental loss of boot is a extension of foot, corner kick! It can not be a goal kick as it was a pass back from a defender. ..However in my opinion, if it was a shot by the attackers I would still award a corner kick as the actions initiated by the keeper are the cause of the ball going wide. This is not the same as the boot lying unattended as in the first incident..(3) Deliberate USB yellow card (although I would prefer to red card), the correct restart is an indirect free kick from where the keeper threw the boot .. .Throwing an object at the ball is not a penal (direct free kick) offence, therefore a penalty or DFK cannot be awarded...Throwing an object at an opponent however is penalized as a DFK or as a penalty kick. The location of the restart is from where the player recieved or would have recieved the impact not from where the thrower was standing. . . .I strongly feel the defender should be sent off for preventing an obvious goal scoring opportunity. I would do so, however, IN My Opinion the current wording of the laws do not cover such an incident and believe my actions though morally correct may not be legal. Cheers ...ADDED NOTE ( Since these answers were posted I have done some investigating. In my opinion you may indeed red card for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity in part 3 the throwing of the boot incident..The goalkeeper committed unsporting behavior by using an artificial aid to move the ball away from the goal. This is misconduct. DOGSO does not require that the offense be committed against an opponent, but only that it denies the opponent a goal or a goalscoring opportunity...I am still trying to confirm the positioning of the IFK whether at the point of interception of the ball or from where the keeper was when he threw it. I tend to believe it is from where the keeper was but not absolutely positive.)

Answer provided by Referee Gary Sebalja

Question 1 & 2 are simply play on...Question Number 3 is a YC and IFK. It is justified on this page reading number 17, however that RC is iching to get out...http://www.fifa2.com/scripts/runisa.dll?s7.131648:GP::67173+refs/qa+E ..Don't tell me we have to inspect players sholelaces aswell.

Answer provided by Referee Lamb

Hi Chris ... the first two situations are accidental and should be treated as if the ball hit "a blade of grass", so they would be goal kicks. The goal-keeper throwing his boot (or shin-guard as an "extension of his hand") at a goal-bound shot would be punished by a caution for USB and restarted with an IFK from the spot where the ball hits the shoe. I would agree with Mr Dawson had this event happened last year, but with rule change (i.e. the goalkeeper whilst standing within their PA throws the ball at an oppenent outside the PA, this was a PK but is now a DFK where the ball hits or would have hit the player). Hope this helps.

Answer provided by Referee Starr

I agree with Mr. Lamb. GK for situations 1 & 2. On #3, a caution to the GK and an IFK to the attacking team. The laws do not allow further action against the GK. He has not prevented a goal scoring opportunity to his opponent since the ball is already on its way nor did he illegally use his hands to prevent the ball from entering the goal. We need to bite our lip as we show only a yellow card for this.

Answer provided by Referee ref

Hi Chris, . your questions raised as many here as there. The opinions of the panel members though close do vary. Which ones do you agree with?. "FIFA and the other governing bodies are unclear about this point of law and that in this particular question the answers stated are purely opinion."

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 25474