Question Number: 33155

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 3/16/2019

RE: MLS High School

John Nagel of Wilmette, IL USA asks...

It looks to me like the there was an infringement on this PK during Chicago Fire/Seattle Sounders game today. The kicker touched the ball a second time after rebound off the crossbar. Am I missing something? See https://youtu.be/hQzng9Bc3OE?t=129. You can see it on the replay even more clearly at 2:27.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi John,
I missed this at first - but the ball actually enters the goal before the 2nd touch. It hits the crossbar and bounces down, and looks to be over the line at this point.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi John,
As my colleague ref Wright points out, the ball was already over the line (I would say probably a foot or more over) and so the goal was already scored before the ball bounced back out and was touched a second time by the penalty kicker.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
The ball was actually over the goal line from the original kick so the second touch was irrelevant. Had it not crossed the line it would have been a double touch infringement punished by an indirect free kick.
It is for situations like this that the lead AR is positioned on the goal line. The AR would have seen the ball bounce down and as all of the ball was over all of the goal line he would have signalled goal to the referee.
If the ball was not over the line the AR would assist the referee in identifying the double touch

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi John,
as the AR or CR recognized the initial shot had scored with the ball 100% completely crossing the goal line the follow up play was inconsequential.
Cheers