Question Number: 31939

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/25/2017

RE: 8 Other

David Peter Saunders of TULSA, OK United States asks...

If a defender takes a goalkick and passes to the goalkeeper outside the box and then the keeper brings back in to the box and picks it up is that ok? Or could it be a pass back?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
The Law does not stipulate the type of kick just that it must be deliberate. So a free kick, goal kick, corner kick are all deliberate kicks from a team mate that a goalkeeper cannot use his hands to touch the ball.
As described the goalkeeper will be penalised should he pick the ball up from a goal kick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi David ,
everything is ok until the keeper chooses to utilize his hands. A DFK outside the PA and an INDFK inside his PA.
The LOTG simply state if a teammate makes a deliberate kick or throw-in to their keeper the keeper is not permitted the use of his hands inside his own PA! Receiving a deliberate kick from a restart is no different than a pass in open play.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi David,
I think this situation illustrates once again why it can be important to use the correct terminology. While it might seem a bit finicky at times to concentrate on seemingly small, technical wording differences, the fact is that by referring to a ''back pass'' instead of the slightly longer but more accurate ''[ball] deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper'' it can make things more difficult to judge correctly.

Once you stop thinking of this in terms of a ''back pass'' and instead think of any ball that is kicked deliberately to the goalkeeper by a team mate, I believe it makes it easier to understand why this would be an offence.

In terms of the use of correct terminology, I am reminded of a well-know quotation from George Orwell which goes as follows: ''The slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.''

Please note that I am not accusing you of being foolish, I am merely using that quotation as it embodies the principle that using inaccurate wording can make it more difficult to come to the correct conclusions.