Question Number: 30085

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/6/2016

RE: Under 17

yogesh of mumbai, maharashtra india asks...

Is it appropriate for a goalkeeper to scream to the other team's striker if the striker is about to score a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Yogesh,
screaming to upset an opponent is in fact a cautionable offence as a USB action thus show the yellow card . If a referee is of the opinion the scream did prevent a goal scoring opportunity it could even be a red card for DOGSO. The USB would result in an INDFK offence. I refer to it as verbal impeding except unlike real impeding, a card must accompany the free kick.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Yogesh,
Verbally distracting or deceiving an opponent is Unsporting Behaviour, and is a cautionable offence. If, for instance, it is Denying an Obvious Goalscoring Opportunity (for instance, there's only the keeper for the attacker to beat and he has the ball at his feet and heading towards goal), then the referee might send the keeper off, but as Ref Dawson states, the restart would be an Indirect Free Kick, not a Penalty Kick.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Yogesh
One of the cautionable offence listed in the Laws of the Game is verbally distracting an opponent during play or at a restart. When the player is cautioned for this unsporting behaviour offence the restart is an indirect free kick. Indeed if the screaming / shouting is sufficient enough to deny a goal scoring opportunity the offender can be dismissed. Extremely rare yet possible. An example would be if a opponent roared STOP STOP for no reason at an attacker who is about to score and the attacker obliged that unsporting behaviour has denied a goal scoring opportunity. Unlikely yet you get the jist.
Now this offence must not be confused with communication between team mates. There is a myth that shouting for the ball without a name is an offence. It it is only an offence if it is done in an unsporting manner. For example a player calls leave it to a team mate and he obliges is not an offence. If a player unsportingly shouts the same to an opponent who is going for the ball that clearly is an offence which is a caution and an IDFK restart. Some mistakenly think it is an IDFK only and there is no such offence. There must be a caution shown and that is the test of the offence. No caution No free kick.