Question Number: 24805

Law 16 - Goal Kick 4/11/2011

RE: Competitive Under 19

Al Dugan of Belmar, NJ USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24753

I know you get a lot of questions, but are you seriously going to give a card for the ball not clearing the area on a goal kick?

Really? Is that how you want to referee your games? The first time it happens, you're carding someone?

Think it through. Please.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Al
The card is not for the ball not clearing the goal area
In general the vast majority of kicks that do not leave the penalty area will not involve any disciplinary action. That though was not the question that was asked. Let me put two scenarios to you
1. Scenario as outlined in the original question. White Attacker sees a miskick of the ball, runs to the edge of the penalty area and stops on the line waiting for the ball to leave the penalty area as per the laws. Blue defender seeing what is going to happen runs past static White into the area to prevent White's attempt to gain possession of the ball outside the area and kicks the ball away. As the goalkick has to be retaken why should Blue's unsporting behaviour be rewarded?

2. Eighty ninth minute in a close game and Blue team leading by 1-0. The referee has spoken to a number of Blue players about time wasting on restarts and Whites are getting incensed. Blue goalkeeper takes a goal kick and the ball is slowly leaving the penalty area and Blue defender runs inside the penalty area and kicks the ball away rather than waiting for the ball to leave. Should the referee caution here?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Al, the question asked was 'Is this a cautionable offense' the answer to which is yes. No one said a caution would or should be given. That said, suppose an attacker is waiting a yard outside the penalty area so he may legally play the ball if the goal kick should come to him. Further, let's say there's 3 minutes left in regular time, score nil-nil and you the referee have already verbally warned the defending team not to play the ball until it leaves the penalty area. And, this is a U19 Classic game. The keeper shanks the goal kick and it dribbles slowly but will leave the penalty area and is heading right towards the attacker whose eyes have become as big as saucers anticipating a one on one with the keeper. A teammate of the keeper sees what is about to transpire and runs into the goal area and stops the ball from leaving. Doesn't matter if he uses his hands or feet as the ball is not yet in play.

Are you telling me you're going to ignore this? Is that how you want to referee your game? Think it through. The defender has just taken away a scoring opportunity from the attacking team. If you don't caution how are you going to punish this blatant misconduct?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The caution is for unsporting behavior, not for stopping the ball inside the penalty area. The restart will remain a goal kick, because the ball was never in play, but now the errant defender will be carrying a caution, and if it is his second, too bad. Should've thought of that before he committed the crime. It is not a question of first, second or third instance of the behavior - it is a question of whether the LOTG can be trampled on without penalty from the referee. Is that how you wish to referee?

Most of the time, the ball not leaving the PA does not create a cautionable issue. Most of the time, the ball failing to clear the penalty area line has to do with weak kickers, wind or over anxious attackers. None of those instances require a caution, and we never said they did. What IS cautionable is the blatant behavior by a defender which attempts to manipulate the law to the advantage of his team.

So, really, yes, this is the way the game should be conducted, with common sense, knowledge of the Laws and support of the spirit of the game.