Question Number: 31658

Law 13 - Free Kicks 7/27/2017

RE: PREMIER Adult

IBRAHIM ISHIAKU of LOKOJA, KOGI NIGERIAN asks...

WHAT SHOULD BE THE DECISION OF A REFEREE IF AN INDIRECT FREE-KICK IS AWARDED INSIDE THE DEFENDING TEAM PENALTY AREA, THE FREE KICK IS TAKEN DIRECTLY AND THE BALL HITS A DEFENDER'S HAND AND ENTERS THE NET (GOAL). PLS WHAT SHOULD BE THE DECISION OF THE REFEREE?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ibrahim
The referee should allow the goal to stand and the restart is a kick off.
Two points here.
The first one is that just because the ball hit a players hand /arm does not make it an offence of deliberate handling
Secondly if it was deliberate handling and the player deliberately tried to stop the ball entering the goal the refeeee should play advantage and also award the goal. The player can be cautioned if the handling was an unsporting action.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Ibrahim,
Award the goal restart kick off!

as long as the INDFK was taken correctly and signaled by the referee the ball contacting the defender's hand has fulfilled the 2nd touch requirement and the ball passing completely over the goal line under the crossbar between the posts would qualify a legitimate goal with a restart kick off!

A deflection of the ball off the hand is NOT a deliberate action and thus not an infraction in any way even if it was another attacker rather than a defender the ball should contact accidently. It just seems unfair that a favorable result occurs when the ball does come off the hands.

If the defender had attempted to deny the goal but failed we still apply advantage and award the goal, possibly cautioning the USB, for trying to do wrong.

If it was an attacker who tried to redirect the ball into the goal we would caution for the USB and award a DFK out!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Ibrahim,
The decision of the referee should be to award a goal.

As my colleagues have pointed out, a goal should be awarded whether or not the handling was deliberate: if it was unintentional, there is no offence and even if it was deliberate, the advantage should be applied.

In addition, if the referee judges that the handling was a deliberate attempt to prevent a goal, the defender must be cautioned.