Question Number: 31957

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/29/2017

RE: Under 16

Roberta Pelfrey of BATTLE CREEK, Michigan United States asks...

When a goalie catches a soccer ball from going in the net, can a player from the opposing team run into her and shove her down? I always thought that the other team was not supposed to touch the goalie while she was at her post but not in the net.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Roberta ,
NO!
neither touch the keeper OR challenge for the ball once said ball is within her grasp. It is a DFK for charging to run into her and or an INDFK for interfering with her release of the ball during her 6 seconds of uncontested possession if the ball is within her hands!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Roberta
No that is not possible and indeed it is also a foul if a player charges into or jumps at an opponent in a careless or reckless fashion. So with or without the ball an opponent may not illegally charge an opponent.
Have a look at this video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dhNCTvbYKZU&t=2m9s
A Green attacker charges the White defender knocking him and playing the ball into the goal. The referee disallowed the goal and restarted with a free kick to White.
Now there can be times when there is a coming together in the air on a challenge for the ball. In those instances both players *accept* that there has to be contact which is not a foul. What makes it a foul is use of the arms, no attempt to play the ball, illegal charge such as shoulder into the opponents chest etc.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Roberta,
Assuming the keeper caught the ball and still had it in her hands (although that's not 100% clear from your description) then you are right, it is illegal for an opponent to challenge her at that point. Even if the keeper did not have control of the ball by touching it with the hands, an opponent is still not allowed to challenge in a careless or reckless manner or using excessive force. Using enough force to knock a keeper to the ground (unless she was already off balance) would sound like it was very possibly at least a careless challenge, if not reckless, although it is possible for two players to make physical contact and one to end up on the ground without there being a foul, of course.

However, as stated earlier this does not apply if the keeper has the ball in the hands, as any challenge in those circumstances would always be an offence.