Question Number: 24882

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/5/2011

RE: Competitive High School

Ron Hoerner of Barrington, IL USA asks...

In a girl's high school soccer game, the goalie and opposing forward both go after a pass made into goal area. It was definitely a 50/50 ball- either player could have gotten to it first. Goalie narrowly gets to ball first, dives on ball and secures it in hands. The attacker stumbles to the ground but avoids contact with the goalie. With the ball secured, the goalie gets up first. As the opposing attacker gets up, goalie violently pushes attacker in back. Player goes back down to the ground. Ref correctly shows the goalie yellow especially since goalie was previously verbally warned for unsporting behavior. Ref also awards penalty kick to attacking team. Is this the correct restart? It probably is because the ball was still in the field of play. But I was unsure because the goalie pushed the player down when she had the ball in her other hand. Never saw this called before. Thanks in advance.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The ball was in play and the goalkeeper committed a pushing foul inside the penalty area. That's a penalty kick. Maybe the goalkeeper should learn to control her emotions.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Yes. Striking/pushing is more than just misconduct: it is also a direct free kick foul when done on the field of play, against an opponent, and when the ball is in play. (The location of the ball is irrelevant.) When a direct free kick foul is committed by a defender inside her own penalty area, a penalty kick is the correct restart.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ron
The correct restart is a penalty kick for pushing inside the penalty area. Goalkeeper have to learn that just because they have the ball in their possession does not allow them to commit any of the penal offences.
I have awarded penalty kicks for this after the cautions. If excessive force is used then the goalkeeper should be dismissed.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The restart is a penalty kick but I'm not sure a yellow card is strong enough.