Question Number: 32478

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/28/2018

RE: Select and Comp Adult

Tony Gaw of Whitehorse, Yukon Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32473

I find it interesting that several referees with pro experience have different takes on the goal. I for one would have whistled it down and disallowed. This would be very similar to a free kick taken quickly. If a player within the 9.14m has the ball kicked directly at him/her then no problem, but if they stick out their leg to prevent the ball being put back into play, I think we agree this is a foul and a caution. This is what I saw from that play both in real time and slow motion. I even saw a similar play to this on a FIFA training video.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tony
Much has already been said about this. The referee on the day saw nothing illegal in the action. Soccer seen this as a mistake by the goalkeeper and expected a goal to be awarded. Had it been disallowed there would have been a huge furore about such a call.
It was a poor decision and execution by Karius rather than an offence by Benzema. The only people debating this is referees with some in the minority who seem to want to find a reason to give a foul.
As to your analogy a player can intercept by sticking out a leg provided he does not move towards the ball. Benzema does not move towards the goalkeeper nor does he interfere with the release
Have a look at this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov4PiPOICJs&t=20m26s
Interception v interference.
For me Benzema intercepts rather than interferes. He does not even engage with the GK before that so it was not interference at any time. We all know the interfering actions of players in such situations. This was not one of them just poor choice and okay by the GK to throw a ball in a channel with a player stood so close to it that it could be intercepted which came to pass.

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

HI Tony ,
this has been determined by those in authority to be a completely fair goal. The keeper unwisely choose to release the ball with an opponent in close proximity. Trying to justify it as a infringement because he was close is similar to a free kick taken with opponents closer than ten yards and intercepted versus being interfered with. No hindering movement towards the keeper simply a response to a ball put unwisely back into play.
Cheers