Question Number: 31792

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/17/2017

RE: AYSO Flex (Select) Under 11

John Sendrey of Costa Mesa, California USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15093

In the following video, the goalie is seen struggling to control a ball bouncing between the ground and his hands.

https://youtu.be/d8y0OKgRABA (you may need to zoom in on HD video and play in slow motion to see details more clearly).

The attacker sees that the goalie has not controlled the ball š½ï¸, so he makes a play on the ball. The ball then travels between the goalkeeper's legs and behind him. The attacker maneuvers around the goalkeeper who is still struggling to make a play on the ball. The attacker shoots the free ball and scores a goal.

Based on the video footage, did the goalkeeper ever establish control of the ball? Did goalkeeper have contact at the moment the attacker played the ball? Is instantaneous contact of a bouncing ball considered control? What if the contact/control was simultaneous? What if goalie's motion against opponent caused him to drop ball? In other words, If the goalie indeed had control, does it matter what made him lose control of the ball? Would it be different if attacker kicked ball away as compared to the goalie's forward motion with possession of the ball striking the attacker who had been playing the ball fairly up to the moment the goalkeeper established control?

Assuming the goalkeeper never established control, was the subsequent play clean? Can an attacker maneuver around a goalie with outstretched arms? Is any contact by the legs or body of the attacker and the goalie a foul? What about the arms of the goalie interfering with the movement of the attacker? Is any play by the goalie on the ground considered to be dangerous play, or can a goalie playing on the ground never be booked for dangerous play?

The outcome of this play was that the referee ruled that the goalkeeper never established control of the ball, there were no subsequent fouls, and the goal was allowed to stand.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
From what I see here the goalkeeper at no time had control of the ball. Neither is the goalkeeper fouled in any way by the attacker so for me the correct decision is a goal and the restart is a kick off.
The referee is well placed to see this and for me gets the call correct. Interestingly I did not read your last sentences before looking at the video as I like to make up my own mind before finding out the on field call. I would have been disappointed if a free kick was awarded.
Now to answer some of your other point.
The goalkeeper is like any other player with the exception as you know that he can use his hands and may not be challenged when in control of the ball either standing or on the ground. When the GK does not have control of the ball he is like any other player and he can be challenged even if he has outstretched arms or attempting to play or catch the ball. If the goalkeeper dives to the ground then he has increased the risk of endangering his own safety and opponents while mindful of the goalkeepers position are not restricted in playing the ball provided it is not done in a way that is not a regular foul such as raised cleats, kicking an opponent etc.
Goalkeepers when they dive on the ball are afforded some leeway in the playing in somewhat of a dangerous manner in that it is not seen as such. On a challenge a diving goalkeeper on the ground would rarely be called for PIADM for trying to okay the all whereas a player would be more likely to be called trying to play the ball in a prostrate position. The fact that a GK can get his hand ON the ball then makes it not available for challenge so opponents must then desist in further challenge which removes the dangerous play element. There is the second or so before that which is the risky time.
As regards control of the ball the Laws set out what is control and if a goalkeeper spills the ball then it is fair game for an opponent to try to play the loose ball. If the reason the ball is spilled after control is contact by an opponent then that is a foul even if the contact was legal such as a charge. Good goalkeeping though rarely results in the loss of ball from possession even after contact so on poor goalkeeping we end up trying to determine if the loss was poor handling or caused by an opponent. Our role is to look for offences on the goalkeeper not to compensate for mistakes.
In the video it is a mistake and the poor handling was of the GKs own making and nothing to do with the attacker.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI john,
in my opinion, based solely on the video, it was not readily apparent the keeper had pinched the ball in between his hands just before the attacker kicked at it. I see no easily identified keeper possession thus the goal stands. I also respect the attacker for kicking at the ball not through the keeper so no PIADM. The keeper mishandled the ball & paid the price. Referee appeared to be well placed to view!
Cheers