Question Number: 33726

Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play 10/21/2019

RE: Under 19

John (Iain) Doleman of Las Vegas, NV United States asks...

Goal keeper sets ball for a goal kick then decides to drag the ball with his feet to a different spot within the goal area, picks it up and replaces it. What is the restart and why?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI John,
dragging the ball using the foot is not a kicking motion that puts the ball in play, it is simply relocating the ball to a different spot in the goal area as a goal kick, or for that matter any free kick out, can occur from anywhere inside the goal area . With the new LOTG stating the goal kick does not have to clear the PA , there is reason to be aware of this because as a double touch it would create an very unfair attacking option if we were to see a re position as an actual put the ball into play kick. As long as the time allotted in not being wasted unfairly the re-position is fine. If it drags on too long the yellow card shown for USB is plausible.
Do not look for gotcha type incidents!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi John,
Offences while the ball is out of play don't change the restart - so the goalkeeper still has his goal kick.
However, referees should be wary of this as a timewasting tactic - the keeper may be cautioned for delaying the restart of play. Really that depends on things like how quickly it's done, the game situation (eg doing it while 1-0 up with 2 minutes to go is going to be treated harshly by the ref), and whether the keeper or any other players have been warned before.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
The restart is a goal kick. The only consideration is whether er the action way to delay the restart in which case it is a caution for the goalkeeper.
The restart does not change as one of the fundamentals of soccer is that the game always restarts for the reason play was stopped. Hat happens when the ball is out if play does not change the restart. So if it a goal kick restart nothing can change that other than the referee deciding it was the wrong restart based on new information say from an assistant. A delay or a caution does not change anything.

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