Question Number: 33586

Law 10 - Determining the Outcome of a Match 8/20/2019

RE: 4 Professional

Rocky of Mumbai, Maharashtra India asks...

This question is a follow up to question 33582

Q. My question was with regards to the goalkeeper accidentally throwing the ball into his own net.

To make it more clear - the situation arises when the goal keeper has collected the ball inside the penalty area. He positions himself now to release the ball by virtue of throwing it, but ends up throwing into his own net (probably it slipped from his hands).

Is it a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Rocky,
Thanks for clarifying - we certainly want to make sure we're providing the right answer to your question!
Yes, this is a goal.
As this is not a goal kick it has nothing to do with the changes in law allowing defenders to receive the ball inside the PA. When the keeper has caught the ball inside the PA, the defenders could always receive the ball from the keeper inside the PA if they wish. Sometimes the keeper would simply roll the ball to a nearby defender.

There have been some incidents - even at professional level - where the keeper has thrown the ball into their own goal after catching it in play. In this instance it's a goal - whereas if it was a goal kick (restart after the ball went out of play), it wouldn't be.

Here's one example from the Ethiopian Premier League - perfectly valid goal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feMkeG-SxkM

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rocky
Thanks for the clarification. The confusion arose given the changes to the goal kick law and your related question.
So Yes it is a goal as described and Referee Wright has reposted the video of such a valid goal.