Question Number: 31140

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/31/2016

RE: Rec Adult

Simon of Merrimac, queensland Australia asks...

The disallowed goal (EPL 30 Dec Man Utd v Middlesbrough) at 40 mins. Seeing it as it happened I can understand the decision as I see the forward No 9, kicks out at the ball, (studs showing) while the GK is running towards both him and the ball.

However on reply, and watching the reply several times, I see both players running and jumping towards each other. The forward gets there first, kicks the ball, and the foot is moving away from the GK when they collide. Now the GK has bent his leg and his knee is driven into the forwards hip, after the ball has gone past the GK into the goal.

For clarity on best interpretation of the LOTG, what is your view. As a starting point it seems to me, the goal is good, and the GK earns a Yellow card for a reckless tackle. Had the kick from the No 9 gone wide, the result should have been a penalty.

The vision is available at: at about 3:15
http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2016/12/31/manchester-united-vs-middlesbrough-highlights-full-match-2/

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Simon.
as an opinion I likely award the goal. I could wave away the NEED to caution. However, only the match official can explain it adequately as HIS opinion was the one that mattered! The fact the forward motion by the attacker was ALWAYS likely to take him towards the keeper might play a part given how the tackle began with the leg extended and studs pointed towards the goal.. I thought the attempt to score was appropriate to the situation and failed to garner my support it MUST be PIADM given the Keeper did not hesitate or bail and there was no direct impact of the studs into the keeper. I think it looked a bit dangerous and created a mindset that it COULD be hence the referee is fully correct to try and stop play BEFORE the collision as a threat of injury. In my opinion it evolves more into a DFK type offence if we are only stopping play AFTER the collision. I do believe though the ball was over the goal line before the collision thus out of play thus th INDFK offence had occurred and was why play was being halted.
Cheers and Happy New Year.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Simon,
In the Laws of the Game, PIADM is defined as follows:

''Playing in a dangerous manner is any action that, while trying to play the ball, threatens injury to someone (including the player themself) and includes preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury.''

As I read this, the primary and only required aspect of this offence according to the current wording, is the threat of injury. This for me, is a change of emphasis from the old wording which implied that the offence required both the threat of injury and that the opponent be intimidated from playing the ball.

So although the keeper in this instance did not appear intimidated at all, I feel that with the current wording, that is not the primary consideration. As I see it, the question is basically was there a threat of injury to the opponent and although I've watched it several times, I'm still not 100% sure. In real time, my first instinct was that it was OK but on the replays it looks much more like dangerous play. However, slow motion replays, in my experience often make things look worse than they actually were.

I think that this incident is very much a matter of opinion. It's one that some referees might give and some might not.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Simon
When I saw this first I thought that there was no offence. However on review the Red United player Ibrahimovic had his boot raised excessively high well above head height which is IMO extremely dangerous given the close proximity of the goalkeeper. The fact that there was immediate contact after the play by both the attacker and the goalkeeper showed how close the players close proximity. Perhaps a younger more aggressive GK would have come quicker for the ball and then there can be a serious situation.
http://ak.c.ooyala.com/A2YmRvODE6rX_7DiNng0wCm0pQltfa-E/promo307484234
I recall a few seasons ago a player did this on the edge of the penalty area. I was quite close to the play and my immediate reaction was Wow that is extremely dangerous and he could make boot contact with a players head so I went with the PIADM foul. Some groans yet when I explained that the players boot was over head height and dangerous most could see the risk of such a play.
BTW Ibrahimovic has a habit of this action.
http://www2.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Zlatan+Ibrahimovic+Per+Kroldrup+FC+Inter+Milan+4SGZmIefR_Hl.jpg
http://s677.photobucket.com/user/blogue_desportugal/media/ibrahimovic_inter_fiorentina_liga_i.jpg.html
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2bupiHEaI1qghs9q.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/14/24AC6A6800000578-2909214-image-a-72_1421199042765.jpg

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 31148