Question Number: 29099

Law 16 - Goal Kick 1/12/2015

RE: SELECT Under 15

JEFF MORRISON of HUNTIONGTON BEACH, CA usa asks...

Just this past weekend my goalie placed the ball down to take a goal kick. Picked it back up and placed the ball back down on the other side of the goal box. The ref called a foul and indirect kick was given and the other team was able to place the ball anywhere on the 6yd line they wanted. I have never had a ref make this type of call...
Is it cortrect? I have only seen ref's warn/caution the keeper and allowed the goal kict to take place.
Helpppppppppp

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jeff
Oh dear. A serious referee error here. If the referee was of the view that the goalkeeper had delayed the restart of play then that results in a caution for delaying the restart of play. The restart though does not change as it is still a goal kick.
I would also point out that even if it was an IDFK, which it patently wasn't, any attacking indirect free kick for an offence inside the goal area must be taken on the 6 yard line directly opposite from where the offence took place not anywhere on the line. For example if an offence happened at a goal post then the IDFK is taken on the 6 yard line opposite that post NOT a location of choice on the line.
The referee in this situation could have managed it with a verbal admonishment and if that was ignored then go to the caution.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

While the referee correctly judged that this was not something the keeper should do, the referee erred on everything else.

1. It is not a foul.
2. It is a form of delaying the restart of the match. The referee certainly can warn the keeper to put the ball into play once the ball is set for a goal kick. The referee may caution the keeper for delaying the restart of play if the warning is ignored. But, both are usually only concerns when the keeper is doing so to use up time to protect a lead in the waning moments of a match.
3. The restart is ALWAYS to take the goal kick.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Jeff,
This is a concerning error from the referee. When the ball is out of play, nothing that occurs before the ball goes back into play can change the restart (except an incorrectly taken throw in, or certain breaches at a Penalty Kick). So even if the keeper committed an offence, that doesn't change the goal kick.
Also, there is no Indirect Free Kick offence here. Unfortunately, there's nothing in the laws that comes close here. If the keeper is guilty of delaying the restart of play the keeper would be cautioned, but keep the goal kick.
Also, when an indirect free kick is awarded to the attacking team inside the opponent's Goal Area ('6 yard box'), the attacking team needs to take it on the line closest to where the offence occurred, and parallel to the goal line. In otherwords, the ball is essentially walked directly out to the edge of the GA. The defence is always allowed to take the kick (whether it's a goal kick or free kick) anywhere inside the GA though.
That aside, a keeper placing a ball on one side of the goal then picking it up and moving it across can be considered delaying the restart of play (so can a keeper taking their time to place the ball and walking to the far side of the Goal Area).
It depends on how long the keeper is taking and if there have been other slow restarts. Teenage players seem to like running the ball to the other side. Usually referees will try to manage it verbally first.