Question Number: 32473

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/26/2018

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Hello,

what do you think about first goal in today's Champions League final match? Could it be 'preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball'?

Thank you very much!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Petr,
I was looking at it in real time and I barely grasped what had occurred?
The attacker Karim Benzema was simply moving forward with momentum off to the side. The keeper Loris Karius stepped right up into his path and threw the ball. Benzema reacted by sticking his leg out as the ball was released but it did not prevent or interfere with the release he simply was reacting to the proximity of the ball itself?

I wondered as you did if there was a case for interfering with the keeper but truthfully I was utterly befuddled at what the keeper was thinking. While Benzema can not TRY to interfere with the release, the attacker is not obligated to move out of the way given his own movements to stop or change direction take a moment or two. I would hold him responsible should he move deliberately into the way by shadowing the keeper but in effect here it was Loris Karius who moved in tight to the attacker..
I am ok with awarding the goal. The first of Two hideous mistakes by Loris Karius, it was it was bad day to have a poor performance.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Petr,

This is a clear foul by the attacker for me. The attacker is running off to the side, sees the keeper is planning on releasing the ball in that direction so sticks his foot out as the ball is being released. Now, had he not stuck the foot out and the keeper threw it to him I'd probably be putting this back on the keeper - I don't think his intention in running in that space was to block the keeper. But given the foot was stuck out as the ball's being released, that changes things.

Preventing the keeper from releasing the ball is an offence. If a player, 1-2 yards away, has stuck out a foot to block the path of the release then that seems like a pretty clear case of preventing the release of the ball. If attackers are allowed to do this, then presumably that means attackers can run in front of keepers and jump right in front of them to block a kick. We all know that's not allowed - because allowing the keeper to release the ball means allowing the reasonable opportunity for the ball to re-enter general play. It isn't just about the moment the ball leaves his hands - the intent of the law is to permit the keeper to be returning the ball to the field. The attacker took actions to block this from occurring.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Petr
The Laws of the Game tells us that it is a technical foul if a player ** prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the hands or kicks or attempts to kick the ball when the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it**
The ones we see called are on players who interferes with the opposing goalkeepers ability to get the ball back into play freely and quickly without any interference.
Btw this incident is not unusual as it has happened before
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ITnU9IHEQ-s
I was watching the CL game and in real time I agreed that the goal was good. Since watching it multiple times I have not seen anything to change my mind nor heard any arguments that suggest no goal . Benzema give up his run as the goalkeeper has the ball. Benzema anticipates that the ball is going out to the right side and moves that way. The goalkeeper makes a sloppy throw which is fully released and Benzema anticipates the throw, he makes contact with the ball and it bounces off him into the goal.
I suppose the questions the referee has to ask are
# Does Benzema interfere with the goalkeeper at any time?
# Does Benzema prevent release of the ball?
IMO no to both so no offence for me.
At test here is there any prevention of release? Move Benzema back further and there is zero doubt about it and then it is a matter of opinion as to what distance *prevents release*. There is not even a risk with a raised boot here as the throw is low.
So for me I cannot see any interference or preventing release of the ball so for me the goal is good.
Interestingly some are suggesting that had the goalkeeper kicked the ball it would have been disallowed? There are examples of disallowed goals in such circumstances and maybe those offences are given generously. The ones I gave seen are where the opponents moves in front of the goalkeeper, shadow him and generally be in the Gaks space.
Last word is that Referee Matic on the day saw nothing wrong or unsporting. He awarded the goal and some will disagree with it. I think he would have been berated for disallowing the goal whereas I do not see a huge outcry of an injustice here by giving it. It was poor goalkeeping that caused the goal and note that there was no real protest by any Liverpool player other then a half hearted one from the goalkeeper and possibly Henderson, not that makes any difference. Imagine a clear offence that resulted in a goal in a CL Final. The referee would have been mobbed with protest!

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Petr,
Ref McHugh has given the extract from the Laws that most closely applies to this scenario.
The question for me is, what do the phrases 'prevents [...] from releasing' and 'in the process of releasing' mean, exactly? I think we all agree that a forward sticking a leg in when the keeper has thrown the ball up to kick it is an offence but what about situations like this when the goalie is throwing it out? For me, that is a whole lot less clear. In the end, I would have to say I find myself leaning more towards the 'no offence' camp but I can see arguments both ways.

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