Question Number: 29035

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/7/2014

RE: Intermediate Under 13

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29029

I'm wondering if you can clarify this any more. From past answers, I've gathered that the GK is just like any other player, except that once he/she has control of the ball inside the penalty area, no one can challenge.

I've also gathered that if an attacker or defender do a slide tackle, that getting to the ball first is not a defense to a foul. That is, if a defender does a tackle, slides with cleats down, doesn't lift the trailing leg, contacts the ball, BUT momentum carries him into the attacker, it's still a foul. i.e. not a case where the attacker trips over the defender, who has his leg down, which is not a foul.

Wouldn't the same considerations apply to the GK?

Also, I guess most tackles that don't involve the GK come from an angle, so it's a little bit clearer whether an attacker trips over the defender or the defender slides into the attacker. If they were coming directly towards each other, it might be more difficult to determine who, if anyone, committed a foul.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
The goalkeeper is the same as any other player. The answer will depend on the manner of the challenge. As we have said many times getting the ball does not make a challenge legal. The referee has to decide between accidental contact of two players coming together and a challenge that is reckless.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Phil,
A slide tackle where the leg's are extended is different than a fetal position cover slide as well. Every time a player goes to ground there is an element of risk be it player or keeper . The keeper has a huge advantage that once he has ball possession the opposition must ABANDON their challenge . This is not the case on player versus player. Your description where there is momentum and fair ball contact it is not a guarantee of a foul just a possibility if the player is cleaned out in an unsafe fashion! The angle of view by the CR, in consultation with AR side view all figure into trying to determine if there is fair or foul in any contact situation and who the guilty party is in a keeper/player incident. I have to say though keeper with the ball will likely get the nod unless some thing very transparent is occurring. Most keeper fouls will occur when he does not have the ball or has to go through a player to get to the ball!

A keeper can certainly foul an opponent, but again , one needs to see the actions to come to any conclusion. This was possibly one of the worst most heinous fouls I ever saw by a keeper and there was no call at all. Career ending almost I might add
Harald Schumacher vs. Patrick Battiston (1982 World Cup semi finals)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPTOnClKCJc#t=29

a goofy foul
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=worst+keeper+foul+ever&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=2371DB5E84D3445FB70E2371DB5E84D3445FB70E
Cheers