Question Number: 35254

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/26/2023

RE: Adult

Robert Boss of Swadlicote, Derbyshire UK asks...

A goalkeeper makes a save. He then releases the ball by dropping the ball on his foot and kicks the ball downfield. The wind catches the ball, which bounces over the opposing goalkeeper and straight into the opposition goal.
Does this mean that by the first goalkeeper by releasing the ball and immediately scoring, and by the virtue of law 12 being breached concedes a penalty?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Robert
Not sure what you mean here or what Law 12 breach there has been?

The goalkeeper made a save and then kicked the ball down field either as a punt or off the ground so there cannot be any offence. Its a perfectly good goal.
Plenty of examples here.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QUp6OyrHoMc&pp=ygUQR29hbGtlZXBlciBnb2FsIA%3D%3D

From your description its what goalkeepers do and they are entitled to kick the ball downfield. If it happens to make it into the opponents goal such as shown in the videos the goal is good.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Robert.
I too am equally puzzled, the keeper has to my calculations just scored a good goal? His handling of a ball inside the PA is permitted? Unless the keeper had committed some infraction, his longshot at goal stands!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Robert,

Thanks for your question but I'm a little unclear as to your concern here.

Are you asking if this would fall under the 'handles the ball and immediately scores' clause that would typically apply to attackers scoring a goal? If so, this would be legal.

First, a goalkeeper can never give away a penalty kick for handling the ball, even though this offence normally carries a direct free kick/penalty kick.

We can look to Law 10.1: Goal Scored
If the goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded.

This isn't your exact situation, but it does tell us that if a GK scores from their hands, it's not a FK - but a goal kick. Therefore, there seem to be different considerations for a GK, perhaps it's because they can't give away a PK in their own PA for handling, or perhaps it's because the nature of their role requires handling.

However, from that law, we can infer that it's only THROWING the ball into the goal that's a problem. If they also wanted to rule out a drop-kick/punt, they'd say so. Therefore, this would be a legal goal.