Question Number: 31738

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/27/2017

RE: Adult

David Kuechler of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin United States asks...

If a goalkeeper has possession of the ball in front of the goal and a member of the other team heads the ball out of the goalkeepers hand. The ball goes into the goal.
Would a foul be, dangerous play or an illegal charge and would a yellow card be needed. I was curious what the call was?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi David,
This would be an offence. The Laws of the Game say a goalkeeper that has possession of the ball with the hands, may not be challenged.

A yellow card would not necessarily be required unless the challenge was considered reckless but a referee could choose to caution the player for unsporting behaviour if they felt it appropriate.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
Law 12 tells us that A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with the hands and that a goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball when:
# the ball is between the hands or between the hand and any surface (e.g. ground, own body) or by touching it with any part of the hands or arms except if the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper or the goalkeeper has made a save
# holding the ball in the outstretched open hand
The Laws also tells us that an indirect free kick is awarded if a player: # 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
# commits any other offence, not mentioned in the Laws, for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player.
Now it is likely that when the player does this the goalkeeper has been prevented from releasing the ball or that he has been challenged while in possession of the ball, In either case it is an IDFK. At higher levels of the game referees will deem this unsporting behaviour which is a caution and as it is a technical offence it has an IDFK restart.
Interestingly that for ONE year in 2004 it was considered legal to do this yet IFAB seen the error of its change and changed it back to an offence the following year.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI David,
nowadays the call would be interfering with the keeper's release of the ball. It would be an INDFK offence unless he had actually contacted the keeper in some manner which could be a DFK out. There was a BRIEF moment in the LOTG where such an action was actually legal due to the wording of the LOTG but it was quickly eliminated the next year. I suspect a caution show a yellow card is likely needed as they should know better than to create mischief but watch out for irritation and blowback no matter what decision on the card.
Cheers