Question Number: 31297

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/25/2017

RE: Rec High School

Salvador Flores of Indianapolis , IN USA asks...

I have a question about the pass back rule. So if a defender tries to pass it back to the goalie but an attacker closing on the defender deflects the ball back to the goalie, is that a pass back or not?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Salvador
Any touch by an opponent negates the deliberate element of the kick to the goalkeeper so the GK is free to touch the ball with his hands.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Salvador,
This would not count as a ball deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a team mate.

Although the Laws don't specify the ball has to go directly to the keeper without any intermediate touch, it has to be assumed. Because if an intermediate touch by an opponent didn't alter things, then why would even multiple intermediate touches matter?

If intermediate touches didn't matter and you take it to its logical conclusion, it would basically mean that once a defender kicks the ball deliberately, intending it to go to his keeper, the keeper can never subsequently touch the ball with his hands, no matter what happens in between. So even though the word "directly" isn't there, I think it has to be assumed, otherwise the possible permutations rise to the level of the ridiculous.

Incidentally, it is better to avoid the phrase ''pass back'' as it is can be slightly misleading.

The direction the ball travels does not matter and the word 'pass' could apply to parts of the body other than the foot.

Also, please see Q#30163 where this same issue was raised and ref Dawson informed us that he ''Raised this same question and FIFA sorted it out that an opponent's touch makes the keeper's actions ok.''

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Salvador
I should point out that it took a decision in live play before FIFA understood they needed to address the confusion. WE instruct newer referees but it is easy to understand those who are not referees when reading the LOTG can not interpret their actual, intent on these slight modifications.
Cheers