Question Number: 33946

Law 10 - Determining the Outcome of a Match 6/18/2020

RE: non competitive Adult

George Weagly of Hagerstown, Maryland USA asks...

If a goalie catches a shot and stumbles and is bumped by a team mate and falls into the goal, is it a goal? The ball crossed the score line.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi George
In this instance its a goal.
Now, if it had been an opponent that the keeper was bumped by, the referee needs to consider whether a careless foul has occurred by the opponent. Whether the goal there would be disallowed depends on the situation.
But being bumped by a teammate?
Thats a goal as long as the whole ball crosses the line.
If youre referring to the recent Aston Villa vs Sheffield United incident, the issue is that the ball crossing the line wasnt recognised - Goal Line Technology appears to have not worked in that instance and the refereeing team, for reasons unknown, were not able to recognise that fault and compensate for it.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi George,

Yes, this would be a goal. Law 10 says that:

"A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no offence has been committed by the team scoring the goal."

Since the team scoring the goal did not commit an offence and the ball passed wholly over the goal line, the goal would count.