Question Number: 33657

Law 18 - Common Sense 9/17/2019

RE: Rec Under 16

james henry okwiri of nairobi, Kenya Kenya asks...

Upon a corner kick, a keeper collides with a strike simultaneously however the striker during contact heads the ball out of play. Should the referee award a penalty .

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi James
Was an offence committed and by whom? Did the attacker head the ball and then his momentum took him into the goalkeeper? Did the goalkeeper jump at, charge the opponents?
These are all judgement calls that the referee has to make.
So the answer could be no offence, a foul by the goalkeeper or a foul by the attacker.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi James,
Whatever the situation, the referee should only penalise a player who challenges another player in a way that is careless, reckless or uses excessive force (CRUEF). Just because a goalkeeper and opponent collide at the taking of a corner kick, it does not mean that a foul has occurred. When two players are attempting to play the ball at the same time, there is frequently body contact. Often this is no more than what we call a 'coming together' and no call is required.

It is only when the actions of one of the players meet the CRUEF definitions in the law, that a foul is called. In the example you give, if the referee judged that the keeper did in fact commit a foul at the same moment as the opponent headed the ball (meaning the ball was still in play) a penalty would be awarded.

It doesn't matter if the ball went out of play afterwards, it only matters whether the ball was in play when the offence occurred.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI James ,
referee needs to make a decision, it is his match, his reputation!
the ball is IN play until it exits the FOP.
In the altercation if the keeper FOULS the striker it MUST occur prior to the ball going out of play be it deemed careless , reckless or excessive . The reverse is true if the keeper fouls the striker.

If the referee determines it is a foul by the keeper & it is a DFK offence, if inside the PA, it becomes a PK not a goal kick, after ensuring they are ok.
Cards are also in play if the challenge was reckless a caution show yellow . One might upgrade to red followed by the send off given possible DOGSO criteria might be met if the challenge was not a reasonable attempt to win the ball? If it was SFP then show red card, send off the keeper, reduce them to ten

If the referee concludes the ball was OUT of play already PRIOR to the contact and the contact was in effect reckless or excessive THAT is misconduct and a yellow card caution or red card for VC and thus send off ahead of the goal kick after ensuring they are OK.

If the referee concludes the ball was OUT of play already PRIOR to the contact and the referee determines the contact was only careless or the contact was part of an inevitability collision declared as 50 /50 while the play was in play, we restart with the goal kick after ensuring they are OK.
Cheers