Question Number: 30066

Law 13 - Free Kicks 1/31/2016

RE: Competitive and Rec Under 14

Uriel Choi of CHANDLER, AZ United States asks...

An indirect kick is given just outside of the penalty area. The ball is a hard driven ball right at the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper ducks away from the ball, but the ball brushes his ponytail as it passes by straight into the goal.

What's the restart? A goal kick for the defending team, or a kickoff?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Tough luck, Charlie. The goalkeeper touched the ball, even if it was momentary and unintentional. So the goal counts - it wasn't direct anymore. Restart with a kickoff.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Uriel,
lol I wonder if anyone tried to tell him that a crew cut is a better choice of hairstyle for a keeper!
If the referee or AR can TELL for sure the ball made actual contact it qualifies as a 2nd touch and the goal would stand!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Uriel
The Law makes no provision for the quality or type of touch in any of its laws be it Law 13, 11 etc. Once the ball touches another player either intentionally or unintentionally and in any manner then that meets the requirement of a touch within the Law. So in this case once it touched the goalkeeper that met the touch of another player requirement so the goal was good.
The challenge can be to determine if it did so. I recently had a goalkeeper reach out to stop a ball going out for a goal kick. It looked to me like he touched it as he attempted to stop the ball which failed. I awarded a corner kick. He and his team mates were none to pleased as they felt that he did not touch it. From 18 yards away with his hands beside the ball it looked touched to me.