Question Number: 24753

Law 16 - Goal Kick 4/2/2011

RE: Select Adult

Kevin Thomas of East Lansing, MI USA asks...

Goal kick is taken and is still in the penalty area. Attacker is waiting at the edge of the penalty area to take the ball toward goal. Defender races over and kicks the ball away before it leaves the penalty area. Is this a cautionable offense, and if so, is the caution for Unsporting Behavior or Delay of Restart?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kevin
Yes this is a cautionable offence. It can be either although in the circumstances as outlined it would be for USB.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It is cautionable but not required. If this was a youth game, they may not realize the ball isn't in play until it leaves the PA. That's a teaching moment. (Of course, this could also be true in adult play). Simply take the kick again, as the ball was not in play when the defender kicked it again, and warn the defender not to repeat that mistake.

If the attacker is right on the edge, the referee and AR should be vigilant to see that the ball, all of the ball, has completely exited the PA before it is touched by the attacking player. If the ball is on the line, it is still in the PA. If this occurs, we retake the goal kick, and keep watching the over-anxious attackers.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

At youth level play I doubt a caution would result from the first time this happened. The defender should be warned not to do this again and if necessary, explain the Law as concerns restarts leaving the penalty area.

Happens again, a caution is more likely.

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

See Question: 24805