Question Number: 31935

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/24/2017

RE: Rec Under 10

Les Shaeffer of Neosho, MO United States asks...

If a player is pursuing a ball in the penalty box and goalie charges the ball and the goalie makes contact with the ball (hands) at the exact same time the player kicks the ball (contact took place at the same time) and the ball rolls free, is it a live ball since the goalie didnt establish control prior to the player kicking the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Les,
in baseball the tie goes to the runner in soccer I would give a nod to the keeper if he has the ball actually trapped between his hands & or the ground simply because the LOTG have already stated we CAN NOT challenge the keeper safely when this occurs making it an offence to do so. If the ball is being reached for the fact the keeper can get a hand to that ball is NOT possession and a dribbling player or a player kicking that ball has not done anything against the LOTG in trying to move the ball away. I have much harder time if they try to play THROUGH the keeper. going in hard after a loose ball as he reaches his hands to scoop or stop it with full set of studs and a stiff leg trying to pop it free KNOWINGLY endangering the keeper using I have a right to get to the ball as an excuse. .
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Les,
I'm afraid you have stated your question in terms that misrepresent the true situation - which will then necessarily cause problems in coming to the correct conclusion. You say that 'the goalie didn't establish control' but this is not so according to your description since, as the law states:

''A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball when: [...] touching it with any part of the hands or arms ...''

As soon as there is contact between the keeper's hands and the ball therefore, the keeper is considered to be in control of the ball and may not be challenged by an opponent.

The decisive factor here is who touched the ball first. You say the touches were simultaneous but in practice I would say that this is rarely so - even if the touches are very, very close, it is almost inevitably the case that one player makes contact before the other, even if only by a millisecond. If in doubt, I think referees would give the benefit of the doubt here to the keeper (reasons of safety and the 'spirit of the game' come into play) and award a free kick against the forward for challenging a goalkeeper who was in control of the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Les
Making a decision in such circumstances can be difficult for the referee with so much going on. Who gets to the ball first, does the goalkeeper get a hand on to the ball , does the ball rebound off the goalkeepers hand / arm making it available to be played, does the action of the attacker foul the goalkeeper causing him to spill the ball, is the manner of the challenge careless / reckless with raised boots, no hope of winning the ball etc etc
The Laws set out what is possession / control by the goalkeeper so it is a judgement call. At Under 10s I would err on the side of caution and safety.
In open age I look at the action of the forward closely and if it is anyway careless I will most likely call the foul. Now it is not a free pass for the goalkeeper and many times it may be an instant bounce away of the ball away from the GK before any challenge.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 31937