Question Number: 25099

Law 3 - Number of Players 6/13/2011

RE: Select Under 15

Justin of San Bernardino, California USA asks...

This past weekend in a tournament, we were in a semi-final game, towards the end of the second overtime, when we noticed during play, the keeper and defender swapping positions. the AR told them they had to get permission first, and they stopped, at which point the coach started yelling they had to switch, he didn't care what the AR said. The players switched, at which point we had an attack. the new keeper, with jersey only half way on, handled the ball, and the AR called for a handball, explained the situation and one was awarded. However, the opposite coach started saying that he had asked at halftime of regulation if he could switch the players towards the end if it came to it, and was told yes. after much deliberation, yellows were awarded to the keeper and defender, no PK was given, and we went to kicks from the penalty mark to decide the game. My questions are: does any of the coaches actions constitue alerting the center of a wanted change? can a swap be made during the run of play? at what point does the rights of a keeper transfer and allow the new player to handle the ball?

Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Justin
When a player changes places with the goalkeeper during play without the referee's permission that is a cautionable offence for both players. If a player changes places with the goalkeeper without the referee's permission before the change is made the referee allows play to continue and the referee cautions the players concerned when the ball is next out of play. The change must happen at a stoppage in play.
For me the player in possession of the distinctive goalkeeper jersey has become the goalkeeper for the purpose of exercising the unique power of the goalkeeper to handle the ball within his own penalty area and in equity half on would be good enough possession for me to identify the GK.
So in this situation play should have been allowed to continue and both players cautioned at the next stoppage. As play was stopped by the referee with both players cautioned the 'best' restart in my opinion, given what went on, is an IDFK from where the ball was located when play was stopped. The referee could also restart with a dropped ball from where play was stopped which is correct in law for an inadvertant whistle. It is certainly not a penalty.
The learning point is that when coaches ask a request or a ruling it is important that they are given a clear decision. In this case the coaches should have been told that a change of GK can only happen at a stoppage in play with the referee's permission.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

First, a keeper and field player may swap position only (a) at a stoppage in play; and (b) after informing the referee. Failing to heed the accurate warning by the assistant referee properly resulted in a caution to each when the ball next went out of play or when play was stopped.

Second, even though the exchange was not done in a proper matter, the player who then is wearing (partially wearing or holding) the jersey IS the keeper. He is permitted to handle the ball inside the penalty area. (The assistant referee was wrong.)

There is a different result when a substitute runs onto the field (either wearing or swapping a keeper's jersey) during live play. The substitute does NOT become the keeper - - the substitute remains a substitute. When the substitute handled the ball, play would be stopped, the substitute cautioned, and if the substitute's handling of the ball prevented a goal, the substitute would be sent off and shown the red card. The restart would be an indirect free kick (because the misconduct was by a substitute on the field of play) where the ball was located when play was stopped.

The only way to get a penalty kick in your scenario is if the original keeper (no longer wearing, partially wearing or holding the jersey) then handled the ball inside his own penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Understand your frustration coach. The AR was completely wrong here. The new keeper was the one with the funny colored shirt whether half on or off. Play should not have been stopped. The Law tells us that when an unauthorized keeper change takes place play should be allowed continue and both players cautioned at the next stoppage. The coach's babbling that he asked permission earlier is immaterial. The switch was illegal even if one believes the referee gave permission because it must occur at a stoppage of play and the cautions were deserved. You don't mention how play was restarted which should have been a dropped ball unless the game had ended. The reason for a dropped ball was the game was stopped for the action of the AR who signaled for a handling violation that could not have occurred given that the new keeper had every right to handle the ball inside his penalty area. This amounts to an inadvertent whistle and the restart is a dropped ball. Had the referee stopped play for the illegal keeper switch the restart would be an INDFK for the opponents. Law 3 tells us the referee is to caution both players when the ball next goes out of play. Ball was out of play for an inadvertent whistle so restart with dropped ball