Question Number: 32028

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/16/2017

RE: Select Under 15

M Monce of Lebanon, CT USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32024

Follow up to 32024: I had a similar case many years ago in which the keeper came over the back of an attacker while attempting to catch a shot. The contact was made before the keeper had the ball and knocked the attacker down from behind. I called a foul on the keeper and awarded a PK. The coach went absolutely ballistic and I ended up dismissing due to his very high level of belligerence at my call. Still a vivid memory. So maybe I had it wrong??

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Does not read like you got it wrong. As was pointed out in the previous answers the contact between the players happened after the ball was in the goalkeepers possession and on the way down to ground. I hope that the answers did not give the impression that fouls could not be committed by goalkeepers in challenges for the ball?
In your situation the goalkeeper fouled the attacker before he had the ball in his control. Just because the goalkeeper gets to use his hands does not mean that he can push, charge, hold an opponent down in his efforts to gather the ball.
By the way control of the ball by a goalkeeper does not give him a free pass at fouling an opponent. I recall a few seasons ago a goalkeeper coming out with the ball after a save and making an intentional charge into an attacker. I awarded a penalty kick and cautioned him for USB.
Funny how certain incidents stick in our minds.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI M
hmm, If you watched the World cup where Germany beat Argentina a while back perhaps you can recall this tidbit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14WDjvsxCQk

Not only was the keeper NOT sent off or even cautioned they GAVE Germany the free kick out at the point of contact rather than a DFK outside or a PK inside depending on your view of where the ball was when it was touched. Argentina did not even get the throw in given the keeper punched the ball away but how Higuain was thought responsible was ASTOUNDING and in my opinion it was the single worst missed decision in the match!

If you can review that match in the first period the Argentina keeper jumps up to catch a ball with a stiff outthrusting straight leg showing all his studs chest high that the German striker had to run around or be impaled was another example of keepers' performing unsafe and unfair actions endangering opponents under the pretext of self protection and their right to be able to use their hands.

In as much as I grant keepers the right to not get knocked on their butt when they go up high to pull a ball down or not to get kicked when they go low into the feet to pull a ball away preventing goals they cannot indiscriminately charge through or over an opponent without consequences.

I had a young keeper decided to tackle with a two footed jump feet first into an oncoming striker where he came up and over the ball carried directly into the striker who went flying. The coaches felt because he got the ball before the collision it was fine tackle I thought otherwise! Any tackle that shows the studs and carries though a player is generally unsafe no matter who it is!

When we review decisions just recall how you cringed at the tackle and had NO hesitancy at raising the whistle because from your point of view it met all the criteria for a careless, reckless if not excessive tackle of compromising safety.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

I would have hoped that the previous answers made it clear clear that goalkeepers are subject to the same laws as outfield players when it comes to physical challenges. If you awarded a penalty against the keeper but no card (and you don't mention one) then you have judged that the keeper has made a careless challenge on an opponent which is a perfectly legitimate call. While it's difficult to say without seeing the actual incident, based on your description it sounds like you made the right call.

I'm not sure why you think you might have got it wrong, certainly nothing in our previous answers was intended to give the impression that a goalkeeper cannot be guilty of a foul when catching the ball.

So just to reiterate - if a player makes physical contact with an opponent while challenging for the ball in a manner that meets the CRUEF criteria (careless, reckless or using excessive force) that is an offence regardless of whether it's the goalkeeper or an outfield player.