Question Number: 27066

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/12/2012

RE: Under 19

d of Des Moines, IA US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 27055

Let's continue with this scenario, ball leaving PA, striking ref, heading towards the goal kicker's goal, (let's say GK took the kick).
But now let's say there is an attacker running towards the ball and has a clear GS opportunity.
What if the GK kicks the ball away from the attacker JUST BEFORE the attacker tries to take a shot at goal?
DOGSO?
Should GK try to dive on the ball making contact with hands 1st?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The only decision for the game is an IDFK. To expect the goalkeeper to stand idly by when the ball is headed for a possible goal is not tenable and anyway a goal cannot be scored by a team on itself directly from a kicked restart. Advantage can be played here and the referee might 'wait and see' what develops before awarding the IDFK.
There must be a competitive element to the game and the DOGSO law was never intended to be a 'gotcha' decision in scenarios such as the one you describe. If the goalkeeper uses his hands inside the penalty area that will not make any difference to the award of the IDFK only.
If the handling offence happens outside the penalty area then that is a much more serious offence and the referee then has to evaluate the situation as to why that happened and whether all four DOGSO conditions can be met.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

In either case, the goalkeeper should not be sent off for DOGSO. The keeper is explicitly saved from a DOGSO for any handling offense inside his own penalty area by LAW 12.
If the keeper kicks the ball before the attacker reaches it, he has committed an offense punishable by a free kick but until the opponent touches the ball, no goal may be scored because you can't score on yourself at any restart. Since the ball was cleared (although a second touch) BEFORE any other player had touched the ball there can be no send off because a goal could not be scored