Question Number: 31341

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/13/2017

RE: Adult

Henry Collins of Maidstone, Kent UK asks...

Two recent 'goals' in non league football. Very similar - goalkeeper had controlled possession in his hands and was looking to kick the ball upfield, but in both cases he struck the ball against an opposing player. One was awarded and one was disallowed. Which of the refs got it right and which got it wrong?
Goal 1 can be seen at 05:35 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZa0G4QYuO8
Goal 2 can be seen at 09:01 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UIjz75BfHg

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Henry
Thanks for the question.
The Law states and I quote
* prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the hands or kicks or
attempts to kick the ball when the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it*
Now in both instances the attackers have run to a position where the sole aim is to prevent the release of the ball. Players have at the last moment turned their backs to make it look that they had no intention of preventing the release. Far from it. Every weekend I see players moving after the goalkeeper in such circumstances. Most times it is to *interfere* with the release by slowing down the goalkeeper or plainly making it difficult to do so. Many times the GKs deal with it and play continues
In your videos I would disallow the goals in both instances. I might add that I have seen such these type of *goals* in other games. One was allowed while another one was disallowed by a PL referee and a caution to boot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAgwBLjf3Ao
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uO9A6s8_vI
Note the players knows the position to stand to to get hit by the ball in such circumstances. It is planned and not a random act if just happening to be there.
Now those should not be confused with errors by the goalkeeper such as in this instance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9BwyqAXF9s
Now having said all that goalkeepers need to be tuned into this tactic by forwards. I recall when goalkeepers had to use both feet to punt so that this would not happen. At the last moment the GK would change from his right foot to his left to deal with the attackers presence.
The current Law restricts player from interfering with the release of the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Henry
first video,
good for the AR getting the CR to change his mind and to take away the goal as it was clearly interference on the keeper releasing the ball. It should be an INDFK out with the attacker shown the yellow carded for interference.
The 2nd one was problematic as it was obvious the attacker was hoping to cause some angst by his movement towards the keeper but he was generally outside and standing still at the moment the keeper decided to kick. But again the question is WHY is he there? He walked towards and out in front as the keeper headed forward. To wind up perfectly positioned to make the keeper move to take his kick. EXCEXPT the LOTG state NO one is permitted to interfere with the release of the ball. I too take a dim view of the obtuse wander just happening to be where the release point is taken. The referee in his match, made his decision thus his reputation and set a precedent for HIS future incidents. I agree with my colleague Ref McHugh we are better of to disallow this goal and restart with an INDFK. There is ROOM to not show a yellow card here as getting hit by the ball and having a goal taken away would hurt enough to send the message best not get anywhere near the release point!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Henry,
Although as Ref Dawson says, the second incident is perhaps a little less obvious, I agree with my colleagues that both are examples of illegal actions by the forward and are offences that should be penalised with, at a minimum, an indirect free kick to the defending side. The referee could also choose to caution the forwards but in my opinion that is only necessary if the offence is particularly egregious or is done in a way that carries a risk of injury.

Unfortunately Ref McHugh is right in saying that there have been a couple of these incidents recently which were not picked up on by the match officials. I can understand why the referees in question might not have spotted what was going on but what I can't quite comprehend is why the AR's in these games (whose job it is to monitor the keeper's release of the ball) did not inform the referee of the offences.