Question Number: 32616

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/1/2018

RE: Competitive Adult

Nick Broderick of Lewis Lake, Nova Scotia Canada asks...

I'm curious to know your thoughts on the incident in this video at the 1:52 mark (https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2018-07-31-mls-homegrown-team-vs-tigres-uanl-u20/recap).

Personally, I'm conflicted. On the one hand, the only difference between this and a 'bounce' - which the Laws explicitly mention does not count as the goalkeeper releasing possession - is the speed at which the ball leaves the goalkeeper's hands - instead of 'pushing' the ball to the ground he merely lets it fall by letting loose both hands. On the other hand, it just 'feels' intuitively correct to say the goalkeeper released the ball here.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nick
My opinion on this was it was going to be a drop kick which then at the last moment the goalkeeper changed his mind to go with a throw. So for me possession was not released.
The drop kick punt involves a bounce and kick of the ball so there was a bounce which then technically allows the goalkeeper to hold on to the ball.
So for me the *best* decision should have been no offence. At worst it is doubtful and in the scheme of things this law was never intended to penalise goalkeepers for such actions.
In the past I have not penalised goalkeepers on wet days where the ball had slipped and bounced down and up again on a punt. Referees should be looking for deliberate breaches where the ball is intentionally released to the ground and picked up again.
The appeals by the opponents here is like the appeals for dubious *pass backs*. Teams look for every single opportunity for a turnover of possession or IDFK.
At the Pro level it should not have happened. I wonder what the match observer thought of the referees decision?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Nick,
I concur with my colleague this was a made up technical glitch call taking away a perfectly GOOD goal by the BLUE and awarding an undeserved opportunity for Yellow. The Keeper looked to do a punt out but kind of of lost control a bit or changed his mind and allowed the ball to bounce which in their 6 seconds of possession is OK under the LOTG. The opposition of course wants a 2nd touch violation but in truth I felt there was no INDFK offence there. I did think there was a SLIGHT possibility there was a DFK for on the release upon rolling the ball out, the ball was in his possession OUTSIDE the PA boundary lines. Only the AR would be in position to see if so and even then to see it as doubtful is certainly feasible. I was unhappy to see VAR used to overrule such a great goal by Blue to award an undeserved opportunity to Yellow . I too would like to be a fly on the wall in the post room discussion after.
Cheers

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

See Question: 32625