Question Number: 28090

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/2/2014

RE: College

ADHAM of Mobile, AL USA asks...

If a player kicks the ball and it touches the hand of the opposite team player (other than goalie) and scores. Which one do we count, the goal or it is penalty?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The referee can and should play advantage by awarding the goal. There is no reason to stop play to award the penalty which could then be missed.
I might add that the ball hitting a player's hand in not necessarily deliberate handling. In fact many times it is not. The player's action has to be deliberate such as moving his hand towards the ball to stop it or redirect it for the handling offence to be called.
The referee can also take disciplinary action even after allowing the goal if he deems that the deliberate handling was unsporting or that it was a failed attempt to deny an obvious goal.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The advantage clause dictates that we allow play to continue if doing so is a bigger advantage to the team than awarding a free kick would be.

That's why you'd allow the goal. It's the exact same law that sees a refereeing yelling 'Play On! Advantage!' in another part of the field when a player is fouled and the ball goes to an unmarked teammate with space in front.

As Ref McHugh said though, this is only relevant if the handling was deliberate. If the handling was completely accidental then 'advantage' is irrelevant, as you'd allow play to continue anyway.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Presuming it's a foul - see below - the referee would do best to play the advantage and allow the goal. If the referee is too quick and blows the whistle before the ball is in the net, then he is stuck with calling the foul. That's why refs should pause a moment, to consider advantage, before quickly blowing for a foul. It takes time for a referee to develop the presence of mind to watch, not react.

But you said the ball touches the hand of a player - was it deliberate handling? If not, it's not a foul at all, and nothing would be called.

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