Question Number: 31328

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/9/2017

RE: Select Under 11

Chad of Riverside, CA USA asks...

Breakaway situation: 1 on 1 striker vs. keeper. Keeper comes out and makes a diving tackle t the striker's feet inside but near the edge of the penalty area. Keeper makes contact with the ball with his waist making. There was no attempt to control the ball and no obvious attempt to handle the ball. Keeper simply threw his body at the ball and striker and succeeded in blocking the goal while taking down the striker.

U10 highly competitive tournament game between two very physical and skilled teams. I awarded PK. However, while there wasn't any noticeable objection to the call, I wasn't completely sure. Whether it was a foul or not, it looked lie dangerous play at that age if only for the keeper's own protection. But if it was a foul, should it have been yellow card for reckless or red for DOGSO?

Thoughts on how the U10 age group factors into this and how it would be handled different for older kids.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Chad,
If this was a foul and the match was being played under the IFAB's Laws of the Game, although this sounds like a clear DOGSO offence, under the 2016-17 law change in this regard, it would only be a yellow card since the keeper played the ball and a penalty was awarded (unless you decided it was serious foul play, which it doesn't sound like).

The main difference that I think relates to the age of players is in regard to whether an offence is careless or reckless. In so far as younger players are, in general, less skilled than older players, the bar can potentially be set slightly higher for each of the categories.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Chad
Once a penalty kick is awarded and a genuine attempt to play the ball then it is not a red card for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity. It is a caution only. That Law was amended in June.
In your example as there was a penalty kick awarded then there is no red card and it is downgraded to a caution. The PK as it were *restores* the goal scoring opportunity. So outside the penalty area a foul which denies a goalscoring opportunity is still a red card.
From what you describe I suspect that it was a foul. However without seeing it I just cant tell for sure. The fact that the GK threw himself at both the player and the ball is certainly careless in tackling for the ball.