Question Number: 31737

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/26/2017

RE: Rec Under 14

Doug Crawford of Oakland, CA US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 31717

My question has to do w the position of the goalie behind the player committing a handling offense.
If the goalie was in a good position to save the shot and prevent the goal, does that negate the DOG send-off offense (denying a goal)?
I am not clear on how well the goalie was positioned in this youth soccer video (re: Jeff Woodward) - it looked like the goalie was slightly out of position but probably could have saved the shot.
Is it good enough if the goalie can 'probably' save the shot - to avoid DOG?
How sure do I have to be that the goalie will save the shot to avoid a DOG offense?
I know I can take into account the position of other defenders, but never see the goalie position mentioned in these discussions.
I have never had to make a send off for this, but I want to be ready.
Thanks much /Doug

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Doug
It is up to the referee to decide based on his opinion of what happens next without the handling. My take on it is to consider the likelihood of the goalkeeper saving the shot easily or not or perhaps the ball is destined to go wide. Remember it is the denial of a goal scoring opportunity not the denial of a certain goal that is the only consideration.
The opinion though is very much a guesstimate and if the handling is very deliberate with the player intentionally stopping the ball heading towards goal then perhaps the player will get less benefit of any doubt. I also think that players when deliberating handing the ball which is destined towards goal that they run the high risk that the card will be red for denying the opportunity.
While not related have a look at these sendings off.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=52YhAcSK8As
The cards were denying opportunities and perhaps one or two had questionable denials yet the sanction was still red cards.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Doug,
In these situations, you should look at what you judge would have happened if not for the handling offence. If you are sure that the goalkeeper would have saved the shot had the defender not handled it, then for me it is more or less the same principle (although occurring in a somewhat different context) as when a player tries and fails to stop the ball entering the net by using the hands - the handling has not denied a goal (if according to your judgement, a goal would not have resulted) so a red card is not required.

As in the scenario of the player failing to prevent a goal by handling the ball, the player should still be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.

If on the other hand, you decide that the ball would have entered the net anyway, despite the presence of the goalkeeper, then it must be a red card - and of course a penalty for the deliberate handling (assuming the offence is inside the penalty area).

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Doug ,
it could but generally a deliberate handling with the ball destined for goal usually is a red card and send off .
The CR can certainly choose to view the handling as uncertain only a caution for USB if the ball was perhaps going wide or towards the keeper or if it was not intentional on the part of the player who deliberately played the ball and the ball could have struck his body and been blocked if the arms were not there.
Giving some doubt to the benefit of not sending off when a PK is the result of a foul was attributed to other fouls but DH got a pass on this concept as it was blatant given there was no challenge to the ball carrier.
Cheers