Question Number: 33997

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/22/2020

RE: Adult

Demetris of Limassol, Cyprus asks...

Hello there,I like to know your opinion if it was a faul or not on the goalkeeper at 1.20 (Anorthosis v Apollon 1-3 for the Cyprus league dated Sep20) .The goalkeeper seems to hold or touch the ball momentarily with one hand before(or at the same time) his opponent kicks the ball to score.Ref video: https://youtu.be/LpXcd4KU4vs

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Demetris,
TECHNICALLY a keeper with ball possession is NOT permitted to be challenged. The LOTG do state the keeper is IN possession of the ball if said ball is trapped between the ground and the hand. It was a difficult decision because that hand hover and kick arrived at about the same time. So in real time chances are that goal will count! There was not too much protest that I could see from the keeper so I feel even he did not really think he had that ball under control possession. It would not be impossible though to have a different referee with a view from that very last perspective decide otherwise! I am satisfied the goal was good and the keeper a shade late to the party. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Demetris
That is just too difficult a call in real time.
I have looked at it multiple times with freeze frame and I cannot say with any certainty that the ball was kicked out of his control. The goalkeeper certainly has his hand on the ball for a fleeting moment and does the attacker kick it while in that position or does the goalkeeper move / adjust his hand just before the kick.
In real time given the goalkeepers body position, hand movement etc it will look like a rebound off a save which makes the goal good.
It is certainly not an obvious error by the referee and as an observer I would have no real problem with the award of the goal. It could not be seen either as playing in a dangerous manner as the attacker cleanly kicks the ball with no contact on the goalkeeper or danger to him.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Demetris,
This is no foul for me. In realtime this appears to be simultaneous contact on the ball between keeper and attacker. Slowing it down there's about 4 frames difference, but it would likely have looked simultaneous in realtime (if the ref could even tell the keeper's hand was on the ball).
I don't believe the intent of the law is to prevent simultaneous contact like this. I think if it's clear to the referee that the keeper had it first then that's a different matter - if the attacker's foot came in, say, two-tenths of a second later then the time delay may have been clear.
Or perhaps by then the ball would have slipped away from the keeper's hand and been free! That possibility is part of the reason why I don't believe the law was ever intended to prevent a simultaneous challenge.