Question Number: 34337

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/16/2021

RE: Rec Under 12

David ONeill of BYFIELD, MA United States asks...

While on the ground the keeper reaches out and puts her one hand on top of the soccer ball at exactly the same time the opponent is completing her kick and makes contact with the ball resulting in the ball entering the net. It was a tie on who touched the ball first. What's the rulebook say regarding this occurrence.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
The answer depends on exact timings here and what actually transpired.
The Law tells us that a goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball with the hand(s) when the ball is between the hands or between the hand and any surface (e.g. ground, own body) or by touching it with any part of the hands or arms, except if the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper or the goalkeeper has made a save.
So if the goalkeeper had her hand on top of the ball on the ground it may not be challenged for and to do so is an offence which is punished by an indirect free kick.
Now we know in dynamic play that the hand may move in such a position so if it is raised off the ball or if the kick happened before the hand gets to the ball it can be played and there is no offence.

You mention it was a tie as to what happened so it is a judgment call by the referee based on his timing of events and what he saw. At Under 12 a referee might decide in the interest of safety to call the kick as playing in a dangerous manner particularly if the goalkeeper is lying close to the ball. He might also give the benefit of any doubt to the goalkeeper as being in control of the ball or if it was a clean kick with no risk whatsoever to the goalkeeper he might award the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi David,
You say it was unclear who got to the ball first here, so the outcome depends on how the referee saw it. If the referee judges that the keeper had a hand on top of the ball, pinning it to the ground before the opponent got a touch, then the goal should be ruled out. If on the other hand the referee decides that the forward got a touch on the ball before the goalkeeper then the goal is good.

The Law does not make any provision for simultaneous touches in this scenario and it's up to the referee to make a decision. As the somewhat ironic saying goes, "That's why we get paid the big bucks."

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Dave,
the keeper has the ability and the right to use their hands INSIDE the PA they defend most of the time. The LOTG state that if a keeper has the ball in his hands it cannot be challenged.

In ANY challenge for ball possession, we ALWAYS consider was the safety of the player compromised by the actions of the other? Players are WELL aware of the consequences on ill-advised last-second follow-throughs & attempts to win what is likely an unwinnable ball. No one wants to see a goal thwarted due to timid attacking principles or saved by over-aggressive defending tactics. It is a competition after all.

The concerns of potentially broken fingers over attacking USB or SFP type challenges if it is clear the keeper was in the better position to gather in a loose ball be it on the ground or in the air as opposed to the keeper being the one to challenge to take the ball off the foot of the attacker where the keeper launches themselves into harm's way it even creates the foul by wiping out the incoming player.

In the old days, you could physically barge into the keeper and knock him into the goal. Not so anymore!

While safety is our concern for ALL Players, we recognize the keeper is at risk due to their position and actions in making saves. The attacking player who slides into the keeper with an extended leg trying to force the ball out or through is likely to be sanctioned. Yet officials should look carefully to see if the ball is free to be kicked as long as the attackers are reasonable in the attempt! Keepers do spill or bobble hard shots and a free loose ball is there to be put into the back of the net!

Cheers