Question Number: 32024

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/15/2017

RE: Competitive Under 15

Russ of Manchester, CT USA asks...

A goalkeeper goes up for a ball in a group. Ball is grabbed with both hands and the goalkeeper falls on another player while taking it to the ground. Is this a foul by the keeper? If both players had a right to their space, it would seem the GK could be considered Jumping In...except he was making a play for the ball. Generally, I give some latitude to Goalies as long as they aren't in my opinion trying to get the player as well. How would you call it?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russ
Generally I would see this as a coming together and no foul. It would only be a foul if the goalkeepers action were an illegal charge, push, pull etc before catching the ball. Usually when a goalkeeper has his hands raised for a high ball with the intention of catching it then we have to allow some level of contact both in the air and with players at they fall on the ground.
Indeed some will say that referees give significant benefit of the doubt to goalkeeper when challenging in the air with the attacker penalized more times for contact on the goalkeeper.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Russ,
In a situation such as you describe, I would say it is unlikely that an offence has been committed. The usual criteria apply - a player's actions, when engaged in a physical challenge for the ball, must reach the minimum threshold of being at least careless, before the player is penalised. If the keeper has committed an illegal act against an opponent then by all means, award a foul but if all they have done is catch the ball and then make physical contact with an opponent on the way down, there is probably nothing worth punishing there.

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

See Question: 32028