Question Number: 2577

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/20/2001

RE: Rec Under 17

E. Nelles of Vancouver, Canada asks...

At a recent game the opposing team took a shot which our goalie easily caught. Another opposing player than ran into the goalie. The ref said is was accidental and to play on. Later on in the game the same thing happened but this time when the player ran into the goalie he raised his knee to protect himself. The ref then gave the goalie a yellow card for making a dangerous play. Was the ref right and is there a way a goalie can protect himself?

Answer provided by Referee hoare 10/22/2001

The ref was perfectly correct, what you must remember is that it is the referees opinion that counts and no one else. If the match referees opinion is that the goalkeeper was playing in a manner that may cause injury to another player then a caution is appropriate.(If defenders do their job properly keepers would not need extra protection.)

Answer provided by Referee Dawson 10/27/2001

While I agree each referee calls the game as to his opinion. It is crucial to recognize the seriousness of allowing unfair challenges to go unpunished. ..If a keeper has clear posession and the attacking player makes no effort to avert or alter his attack on the ball it is indeed a foul. We can only assume the referee in your case did not view the challenge as unfair. In a 50/50 ball situation there is always a very good chance of contact between the players. ..As a coach I train my keepers to jump with a knee up when extended in the air for a high ball. This protective move should not be confused with a deliberate lunge to intimidate an opposing player.. .If a teams keeper is injured or run over by the attacking teams strikers this can lead to very ugly confrontations. Each situation reguires a referee to find the good positioning to make the correct call. Cheers.