Question Number: 31651

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/21/2017

RE: Competitive Under 17

Kenneth of San Diego, CA US asks...

Who has a 'right' to the ball after a goal is scored. It is my understanding that since the game will be restarted by the defending team that got scored on, it is their ball.

However, most of the time one team will retrieve the ball uncontested and I will allow it regardless of which team owns the ball. This seems like common sense and it helps make the game run smoother. But when it is contested, rather heatedly usually, to whom does the yellow for the delay of restart go to. It seems counterintuitive to give it to the team that was trying to speed the game up.

On top of the question of who the yellows go to if it needs to come to that, is there any additional advice on how to properly game manage the situation. I usually pre-empt the situation if I think it will happen by running towards the goal after the goal is scored clearly telling the players who I want the ball to go to before anyone makes an attempt.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Kenneth,

A few years ago FIFA implemented an approach where any player unnecessarily touching a ball that wasn't their team's restart was to be cautioned. This was largely to address scenarios like you describe, where the attacker runs into the goal, grabs the ball and a confrontation erupts.

However, it was shortly removed from the laws as it was too restrictive for referees and didn't consider all the real world implications. But this experiment still tells you what FIFA's view on this is - that if you're not the team restarting play, why do you need the ball?

Fortunately now we can look at it on a case by case basis. Personally I've never understood why players make an issue out of this, but they do, and we're left with the aftermath.

If the attacker has charged through a defender to get the ball or taken it out of their hands, then this is probably going to be an easy caution for the attacker. If the attacker has the ball and the keeper has tried to take it from them I'd be hard pressed finding a caution for the keeper given it's their team's restart - but of course we need to consider the level of aggression involved from both players. In much the same way as you'd consider the mood of the match, previous behaviour and level of aggression on the particular incident in any scenario where players are squaring up to each other.

But proactive behaviour is best from the referee. Once a goal is scored, don't take your eye off the penalty area. There are some instances where it's valuable to leave the PA as quick as possible to avoid dissent from a contentious goal, but you need to judge player behaviour in determining what the 'least worst' option is - if there appears to be heat in the PA, you need to have a view of it. The moment you see players start to contest for the ball in the back of the net, blow your whistle, get over there, pull them aside and warn them. Get into it fast - remember, the defending team are already upset and don't take kindly to this sort of cocky behaviour from a striker!

The vast majority of the time there's no need for intervention from yourself - but if you see the keeper heading to the ball and the striker running over there, by all means, intervene early. The great part about intervening early by calling out to the striker to leave it, is that it makes it so much easier to pull out the card if that's ignored - and may also help keep tempers low as the defence already know you're on it.

As an AR or a 4th official, this is why it's critical to constantly be aware of flash points and be constantly scanning the field, and to ensure that there is never any point where more than 2 officials have their head down writing at the same time.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kenneth
Good advice here from Referee Wright who gives an insight to the history here. The experiment was short lived as it was tried in a number of FIFA Youth tournaments and the referees did not like the caution being given to the attacker in all such situations when the *real offender* was a defender or the goalkeeper or there was no need for a card.
In general the ball belongs to the team that is going to restart so the scoring team has no right to the ball. This typically happens when a team is behind and it believes that by bring the ball back quickly to the centre circle that it will speed up the restart.
Each situation has to be treated on its merits and being proactive can and does help. If the referee moves in quickly to diffuse the situation it can head off any unpleasantness or possible unsporting behaviour. As you say if there is no issue about the retrieval of the ball then there is nothing to deal with so just let it happen. The trick is to know when that is likely to happen. If tussling does kick off then it is a good idea for the referee to request the ball from the player holding it or asking the attackers to move away with a clear shout of instruction to do so such as Nine please give me the ball. Nine move away please, Nine I am dealing with this, move away please or whatever words the referee is comfortable with. Exerting a strong verbal presence is helpful with clear forceful instructions and presence is required.
In these situations it ends up as delayIng the restart yet the cautions can be for unsporting behaviour for acting in an aggressive manner. That can be for any player including the defending team. Even if it the defending teams restart it does not allow a player to get involved in an overly aggressive manner with an attacker who has the ball and vice versa although it is somewhat easier in the case if the attacker is trying to wrestle a ball away that is already in the possession of the goalkeeper or an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Kenneth,
momentum often hinges on the emotional aspect of play as much as the run of play. It is understandable the players' desire to win, their excitement and deep commitment cause them to play with hearts on sleeve and occasionally do things to pump up their team that will annoy the opposition! Trying to retrieve a ball from a grumpy keeper who is ALSO upset at being scored upon in direct contrast to the scorer who is excited beyond all measure that they scored and are back in the hunt so to speak. An astute official is aware of the competitive juices & will be on the look out for such things . An early response with firm presence & verbal command that indicates hey fellows I am here, settle down, lets not create something out of nothing! Sometimes though they just can not help themselves and in their single minded pursuit of victory they forget the cost of unsporting behaviour! A caution show the yellow card could remind them but lets look for a better way whenever we can! A slow reaction by the officials can escalate into red cards and send offs out of simple passion to get on with the game by one team and a moment of reflection by the other to compose themselves.
Cheers