Question Number: 31535

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/15/2017

RE: Rec Under 16

Hamish McGeach of Adelaide, South Australia Australia asks...

Goalkeeper with ball in hands inside the box, kicks it out, ball strikes opposition player outside of the box. Referee red cards the keeper, and awards a penalty. On the card writes 'using ball as weapon'. Thoughts?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Hamish
Context is everything here. In open play on a punt then the majority of times it is an IDFK only for preventing release of the ball. here is an example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uO9A6s8_vI&feature=youtu.be
Here is one that the referee allowed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITnU9IHEQ-s
If however the goalkeeper goes out of his way to use the ball to strike an opponents then that is violent conduct, a dismissal and a red card. The restart is a direct free kick or penalty kick depending on where the player was when the ball struck him or would have struck him as part of VC
Now the challenge is to prove intent in what looks like normal regular play. However if the GK was to run after a player and kick / throw the ball at the player say after words were exchanged then that would be using the ball as a weapon and it is violent conduct.
If the ball is used as a weapon the restart is a direct free kick or penalty kick depending where the ball struck the opponent. In this case if the player was struck OUTSIDE the penalty area it is a direct free kick not a penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Hamish ,
the decision to see this inexcusable behaviour as VIOLENT MISCONDUCT not SFP is within the referees discretion but the restart is not a penalty if the recipient was outside the 18 yard penalty area it is a DFK from where the player was struck. If the player was INSIDE the PA then a PK. Also if the keeper had carried the ball outside of the PA first then kicked it at the player it is a DFK for deliberate handling right along the edge of the 18 yard PA where he left with the ball in his hands. The red card is for the violent misconduct not the foul!
Cheers