Question Number: 28038

Law 5 - The Referee 11/30/2013

RE: recreational Adult

Jaime of Altadena, Calif USA asks...

If a goalkeeper comes outside the box to block a shot with his hands, and the ball touches his hands but continues on into the goal, should the goal be allowed, or should it be whistled a free kick for handsball outside the box?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Hopefully the referee has the presence of mind to play the advantage and not blow the whistle too early. If the ball goes in the net despite the handling, the goal is scored. The goalkeeper cannot be sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO), because the goal was actually scored. She could be cautioned; some say should be cautioned.

But if the referee reacts too soon and whistles, play is dead and the goal cannot be counted. The restart would be a direct free kick at the place the ball was touched by the goalkeeper, outside the penalty area. Now the referee has a tough decision to make. 'If but for the handling the goal would have been scored' is the definition of DOGSO. Yet the referee didn't allow time to see if the goal would have been scored, so does she know? And if the referee thought the goal might have been scored, why didn't she apply advantage?

Lesson: Don't blow the whistle too soon - wait and see.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jaime
The referee can and should play advantage here by allowing the goal. The goalkeeper can still be cautioned if the referee deems that the action was unsporting behaviour but the goalkeeper cannot be sent off as nothing has been denied. The scoring team will want the goal to count so that is always the 'best' decision.
Now if the referee blows too quickly to stop play then the only choice open to the referee is to chalk off the goal, dismiss the goalkeeper for denying an obvious goal and restart play with a direct free kick from where the handling took place.
The referee will evaluate if all the conditions required to dismiss for denying a goal or goal scoring opportunity are present. The location and number of defenders, sometimes referred to as "Last" opponent, is only one of four conditions that has to be met.