Question Number: 24715

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 3/21/2011

RE: AYSO Under 13

Rajan of Van Nuys, California usa asks...

Team A attacker enters the penalty area with the ball and is taken down by Team B defender for a clear penalty kick for Team A. However before the ref has a chance to whistle and signal for a penalty kick Team A attacker, as he is down or going down, manages to put the ball into the net. Goal for Team A and kickoff for Team B. Correct?

Same situation as Team A attacker enters the penalty area and is taken down by Team B defender. However this time 'before' Team A attacker manages to put the ball into the net the ref whistles and points to the penalty mark.
Does the goal count or does Team A take a penalty kick?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rajan
As the referee has not stopped play he can play advantage and award the goal.
As the referee has stopped play he cannot now play advantage so he must disallow the goal and award a penalty kick to Team A.
In both cases the referee can also take disciplinary action against the Team B Defender if the challenge so merited it. However Team B defender cannot be dismissed for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity in the first scenario as a goal has not been denied. The defender can be dismissed in the 2nd scenario for a DOGSO if the 4 D conditions are met.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Ball enters goal before whistle: good goal. (Also good example of referee applying advantage inside the penalty area by waiting to see what happens next.)

There cannot be a goal unless all of the ball has crossed all of the goal line when the referee whistles for the foul. When the whistle blows too quickly, the restart must be the penalty kick.

As Ref McHugh notes, waiting to see sometimes can avoid a sendoff and red card for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity (if a goal results). Most attacking teams would rather have a goal than a penalty kick. Most defending teams would rather lose a goal than give a penalty kick, see their player sent off and play short.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You answer your own question.

A. Play has not been stopped. Goal

B. Play has been stopped. Penalty kick