Question Number: 24621

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/27/2011

RE: Club/High School/College Adult

Ben Munro of Knoxville, TN USA asks...

Player dribbles down on a breakaway, keeper slides out, player shoots and scores. As soon as the shot is taken the keeper slides trough the attacker. The keeper takes the attacker out hard. I know you award the goal. Should you card the keeper? RED/YELLOW?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If by 'takes the attacker out hard' you mean he used excessive force, then the keeper should be sent off. If you meant it was a reckless tackle then caution and show the yellow card. From your description I don't think you mean it was an ordinary foul so, yes, a card is in order

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Ben, 'taking out' a player sounds serious. By all means caution or send off the goalie if the intent was reckless or excessive in the opinion of the referee. Restart with kickoff.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If you're asking, can you still punish the misconduct after you've played the advantage and scored the goal - yes, you can. Probably a good idea to do so, given your description of "takes the attacker out hard". That sounds more than just a careless foul to me.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ben
Judge the tackle based on the normal assessment of challenges. This is taken from the ATR
' 'Careless' indicates that the player has not exercised due caution in making a play.
'Reckless' means that the player has made unnatural movements designed to intimidate an opponent or to gain an unfair advantage.
'Involving excessive force' means that the player has far exceeded the use of force necessary to make a fair play for the ball and has placed the opponent in considerable danger of bodily harm.
If the foul was careless, simply a miscalculation of strength or a stretch of judgment by the player who committed it, then it is a normal foul, requiring only a direct free kick (and possibly a stern talking-to).
If the foul was reckless, clearly outside the norm for fair play, then the referee must award the direct free kick and also caution the player for unsporting behavior, showing the yellow card. If the foul involved the use of excessive force, totally beyond the bounds of normal play, then the referee must send off the player for serious foul play or violent conduct, show the red card, and award the direct free kick to the opposing team.""
The same applies when advantage has been played as in this case.

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

See Question: 24650