Question Number: 30090

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/7/2016

RE: Select Under 15

Jeff Banks of Captain Cook, Hawaii USA asks...

Can a keeper commit a 'dangerous play' foul? If so, can a keeper commit a dangerous play foul when diving for the ball being dribbled in the penalty area?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Jeff
it is possible just not probable inside the PA because he is permitted to use his hands to gain valid UNCONTESTED possession of the ball. The keeper will dive into uncertain and dangerous situations at the opposing players feet as his duties dictate he make the SAVE.

Yet have a look at this no call in the 2014 world cup by the Argentinian keeper at 27 .07 minute outstretched leg by #1Sergio Romero against #7 Bastian Schweinsteiger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsF35BZnFt8

AT about 28 20 on this site. I personally would not permit a keeper to challenge like that in ANY match and could easily see this as PIADM. If contact direct send off !

I also think there is a remote possibility of PIADM when a keeper is restricted by the LOTG from handling i.e. (the ball was deliberately kicked to him by as team mate) and an opponent is in pursuit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14WDjvsxCQk

Then there is the collision at 57.30 by the German keeper Manuel Neuer and the Argentinian striker G Higuain If it was not PIADM by nature of the intense contact it WAS dangerously reckless if not excessive SFP. How it was a FK out in FAVOUR of the Germans was one of the most ridiculous decisions of the 20214 World Cup.


Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jeff
A goalkeeper is like any other player with the one exception that he can use his hands inside the penalty area.
Now we know that some saves at the feet of attackers are foolhardy causing a risk to the goalkeeper. It is though an accepted part of the game for goalkeepers to bravely dive at the feet of attackers to try to save or win the ball. Is it dangerous in the context of PIADM? Accepted practise is that it is not as a regular save. The challenge though can be reckless in the same way as an outfield player would lunge at an opponent. That is an offence.
Put it this way I dont ever recall seeing a PIADM foul called on a goalkeeper for diving at the feet of opponents with his hands to win the ball. I have seen plenty of penal fouls of tripping, kicking, lunging etc both on the goalkeeper and by the goalkeeper none of them PIADM or where the player has been deliberately reckless in the say an aerial challenge with a raised boot. We allow a certain amount of protection yet when it becomes a weapon that is totally unacceptable and an offence.