Question Number: 29992

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/10/2015

RE: Youth to adult, comp and rec.

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

Laws, P. 122.

'if he (goalkeeper) touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate'

This came up at a recent game, where a defender trapped the ball (gas-pedal-style trap), then backed away for the keeper to pick up the ball.

Legal or not? The ball wasn't 'kicked' to the keeper.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
The Laws do not specify the distance a kick has to travel if at all in these deliberate kick situations. In this instance the defender has kicked the ball in a foot trap manner and as such the goalkeeper was restricted in touching the ball after that with his hands. Just because the ball did not travel very far when the player used his foot it is still deemed a deliberate kick.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

We can interpret 'kicked' as 'controls the ball with his foot'. Trapping the ball and leaving it for the keeper is just as bad is kicking it to him here.

Bear in mind we may allow some leniency in a crowded scenario where a defender standing next to the keeper traps it and the keeper dives on it immediately - it's not clear then that it was left for the keeper.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Barry,
bang bang we are in a scrum I yell 'keeper' as I fall on it just as you my courageous defender get a foot to it chances are no INDFK is considered. Put an opponent in the mix and any amount of shielding and we will have an infringement of an INDFK.
AS in any infraction there are elements of doubtful or trifling and then there is a simple foul that requires intervention your match your decision your reputation.
Cheers