Question Number: 30779

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/18/2016

RE: Adult

john morris of manchester, england asks...

If a spectator stops the ball crossing the goalline for an obvious goal what is the decision

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
The Law has been updated here. In the past it had to be a dropped ball in all instances. The referee can now award a goal provided the ball crosses the goal line with the ball was destined for the goal anyway and that a defender was not prevented from playing the ball by the outside agent. If the ball was going wide and it was deflected into the goal it is a dropped ball restart from where it hit the outside agent.
In your scenario with no goal is scored it is a dropped ball from where the outside agent stopped the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi John,

If the spectator actually prevented the ball from crossing the line, even if the referee is convinced that the ball would have gone into the net without the outside intervention, the only available remedy in law is a dropped ball.

However, if the ball was going in anyway before the spectator touched it and then crosses the line, the goal can be awarded - but only if no defender was prevented from playing the ball.