Question Number: 30801

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/22/2016

RE: Competive Adult

Ben Lew of Denver, Coloardo Denver asks...

scenario: Other team is winning, 10 seconds left in the first half. Goalie comes out playing with the ball and I take it from him. I fall but try to quickly get up to shoot but I am stopped by the goalie standing over me keeping me on the ground. Is that illegal?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ben
I am trying to envisage a situation where a player falls to the ground and an opponent who is standing over him is keeping that player on the ground. Is the player using his leg, knee to hold the player down? Is he reaching down with his arm? Or is he just stood there?
Holding a player is certainly a foul which does include holding a player down on the ground. Now that type of foul will be plainly obvious to the referee or any observer. It might be more difficult if both players are on the ground and it can be difficult to determine who is holding should both players be trying to get up at the same time.
If the player is just stood there doing very little other than trying to play the ball there is no obvious foul. A player cannot expect his opponent to move so that he can get up into his opponents space.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Ben,

If the keeper is just standing there and not doing anything (other than that) to physically prevent you from getting up then the referee might not see anything to penalise. On the other hand, if the opponent is using physical contact to prevent you from moving, that would be a holding foul.