Question Number: 32716

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/17/2018

RE: Competive Under 15

joseph lennon of West Kilbride, North Ayrshire (GB-NAY) United Kingdom asks...

Forward jumps up to head the ball in six yard area, goalkeeper manages to get a hand to the ball deflecting it over the cross bar, after which both players collide - goalkeeper falls backwards into his goal player falls to the ground.
What should the decision be.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi joseph,
it will depend. We could have no call but a corner kick restart after checking to see if the players are ok. Cards are possible depending on the safety & force issues & determining WHO if either is to blame? . Caution show yellow for reckless or USB. Was it VC or SFP thus supporting a red card send off? A DFK out or a PK if we believe there was foul by either party prior to the ball going out of Play.

The fact the ball is tipped over the crossbar put the ball out of play thus any direct contact might only be considered misconduct, likely on the part of the attacker for running into the keeper AFTER he played the ball. Thus a corner with a possible card to the attacker if indeed it was his fault for a reckless unsafe jump into the keeper.

Then too what sort of jump had the keeper made?
Did he lead forward with his feet or knee out driving into the oncoming attacker who was simply jumping up instead of up and forward then you reverse the cardable misconduct onto the keeper.

Without seeing how they came together, we are speculating who or if there is blame to assign, players do come together naturally with no fault attached .
Hopefully both are ok.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Joseph
Hard to say really. I can see everything here from no offence to a direct free kick to the defending team to a penalty kick plus no card to a caution / dismissal for either player.
As describe it reads like a free kick to the defending team which is the most obvious and if it was not reckless just contact and loss of balance then no card. I could also see a caution for being reckless to a dismissal for use of excessive force for the attacker.
I could also see a situation where say a goalkeeper jumped up, high boot studs showing kicked the forward high up as he pushed the ball over the bar and then fell back into the net which would be a penalty and a red card for the goalkeeper.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Joseph,
I'm sorry, but I'd have to say there just isn't enough information here on which to make an informed decision. It could be a foul by either player or there might be no offence at all. It would depend on the exact actions of both players as to which of them (if any) has committed an offence. The referee has to judge if either of them has challenged in a way that is careless, reckless or involves the use of excessive force, or if this was merely a 'coming together' with neither player at fault.