Question Number: 26079

Law 16 - Goal Kick 3/18/2012

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26072

I have a follow-up question to question 26072. Suppose the keeper (or other player taking the kick) miskicks the ball & it's dribbling toward the edge of the penalty area. Both an attacker & defender run toward the ball & one carelessly trips the other.

I know there can be no foul, as the ball wasn't in play; it can't be violent conduct, as it was merely careless & that the restart is to retake the goal kick.

None of the cautions seem to apply...perhaps delaying the restart.

1) Is there any remedy for the tripping?
2) What if the tripping was reckless, but without excess force, would there be a remedy?

Thanks for all the information.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
As the ball is not in play there cannot be an offence only misconduct. If the trip is just careless then a quiet word would suffice. If however the trip was reckless then the player is cautioned. The restart is a retake of the goal kick.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Remember that since neither player can play the ball until it leaves the penalty area, there is no need for them to be moving toward the ball. Did that make the careless trip seem more like a reckless trip, because there was absolutely no reason for it?

This is similar to when a player 'fouls' another outside the field of play. Since the offense took place off the field, it cannot be a foul; it could only be misconduct.

The referee has to determine in either of these situations whether the actions need some response to keep control of the game. The referee could decide that given the circumstances, there has been unsporting behavior.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Depending on the severity of the trip (or whatever incident may occur), the referee may still caution for unsporting behaviour or send off for violent conduct.

In any case, as the ball is not in play the restart would still be a goal kick, no matter which player commits the offence.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The answer here is game management. As you note, the restart will be a retake of the GK (or any other defensive restart that has to exit the PA to be in play). So, is the incident serious enough given the level of the competition to require intervention by the referee? Does the referee need to issue a caution or will a word with the players suffice? Clearly that all depends on the teams, the game and the referee crew for that day. But issuing a caution or even a red card here must be so clearly needed that the teams will thank you for giving it. They should feel pretty silly having had all this ruckus over a ball they can't even legally play yet.

The referee could use the voice here - when seeing the guys chasing after it. Hey, guys! That ball's not in play yet - cool it!