Question Number: 35308

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/1/2024

RE: Amateur Adult

Mühenned Elseyho of Onikisubat, Kahramanmaras Turkey asks...

Is the referee’s decision correct to award an indirect free kick inside the penalty area against the defender who made a dangerous play against his goalkeeper while trying to keep the ball away, as he was about to shoot his goalkeeper in the head?
https://youtu.be/2iorBC7xdZI?feature=shared

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mühenned,
There was no obvious apparent offence here and play could have continued. The Blue player has tried to kick the ball away from his own goalkeeper so no offence is possible for that.
If it was for handling of a backpass by the Blue goalkeeper the shot by Yellow negated that as there was a save before the ball was touched by hands. There is not a deliberate kick by the Blue defender after the save to the goalkeeper just a swing of the leg at the ball.
Did the referee take exception to the manner of the slide by the goalkeeper leading with both feet?
Is there a local no sliding tackle rule?

The original dive by the goalkeeper was to block a shot plus no contact happened with Yellow.

Only the referee could opine what the IDFK was given for. Most referee will answer why an offence was given and the referee can be seen speaking to a Blue player no doubt justifying the call
For an IDFK to be awarded there are limited possibilities in my opinion
1. Handling a backpass. Unlikely
2. A verbal offence. No idea yet unlikely as no card was shown.
3. Local indoor no sliding tackle rule. Highly likely if it is in place.
3. Playing in a Dangerous Manner. A possibility if Yellow shouted about the use of both feet by the goalkeeper. The referee is looking face on at this rather than our side view so he could have seen the soles of both boots of the goalkeeper. We know players take exception to challenges where both feet are seen in the challenge. To me it was not PIADM yet a referee could make that call.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mühenned,
must admit it certainly looked like a dangerous action! I saw the keeper pull in the hands to cover the head. The referee likely responded, driven by the concern for the safety of the keeper. Thus while this referee's intentions could be seen as noble & certainly be appreciated by the keeper, there was no actual foul or infraction for an off balanced defensive action against a team mate .

Here the referee is basically awarding a clear opportunity for the opposition a chance to score and they have done nothing at all to deserve such an opportunity? What could occur is to perhaps consider this as an inadvertent whistle stoppage and restart with a DB to the keeper? Perhaps reminding the blue player to be careful.

Under most conditions within the guidelines of FIFA /IFAB this is play on! Certainly no INDFK would be awarded here.

With Youth or Highschool since safety is a much more emphasized attribute there could be additional instructions or rules imposed as what is permitted inside that boundary area? Best ask the referee straight up as to why and ask what law is being implemented? Referees make mistakes and could benefit knowing when they have so as enjoy the benefit of experience for next time!
Cheers and Happy New Year!

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Mühenned,

I don't see anything dangerous here - however, I wonder if this competition has a rule against slide tackles? And perhaps slide tackles are an indirect here? If so, the referee may have considered this a slide tackle (though I think he just lost his footing after trying to block the ball). Or perhaps the rule is against sliding as a whole.

That's the only possible reason I can see for the IFK.

Though I notice the defender is motioning for their hands - so perhaps the referee has incorrectly called the GK for a backpass after it came off the defender's foot However, for a backpass, it needs to be a deliberate kick (it was) with the GK the intended recipient (it was not) - there needs to be control by the defender.