Question Number: 35664

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/20/2024

RE: Adult

Peter of Melbourn , Victoria Australia asks...

After the goalkeeper picks up the ball in his penalty box, he attempts to kick the approaching striker although the kick doesn't land on him, and misses.
Based on Law 12:
A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offenses against an opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless, or using excessive force:
kicks or attempts to kick
If we consider this as violent conduct, the referee is obliged to award a direct free kick (penalty) and issue a red card.
Is that the correct decision?
Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
Thanks for the question.

It is an attempt to strike an opponent with a kick which is a dismissal and as it happened inside the penalty area the restart is a penalty kick.

Now it is a rare enough offence and a stupid action by a player. It can also be a gesture of contempt for something untoward that happened and a referee might go with a caution for unsporting behaviour.
It is up to the referee to opine if it is missed strike or a gesture. That will depend very much on the circumstances as to how it all transpired.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Peter,

Yes, that is correct. An attempt to kick is a penal foul, just the same as kicking is, so the correct restart is a penalty kick.

It depends on the force used and danger to the opponent as to whether it's USB and a caution, or VC and a red card.

There is a recent video on social media (which you may be asking this in reference to) where the referee restarted with a drop ball. Unfortunately, that's the incorrect restart and is the sort of error in law that can see a match result appealed.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Peter.
The attempt to kick by the keeper can certainly be a DFK or PK . It can be considered as cautionable USB show a yellow card or as VC show a red card and bye bye reduce the team by a player, new keeper on their way into goal. It can not be SFP as there is no challenge for the ball given the keeper already has it in his possession.

I want to reiterate something:
often a keeper in grabbing a loose bouncing or air ball will extend a leg or raise a knee in an effort to intimidate or ward off an opponent from charging in to challenge! The opponent might stop or swerve to avoid said action an it COULD be seen as PIADM which is an INDFK. In cases of contact a DFK or PK

https://youtu.be/0MIea7FY8U4
3:02 to 3:08 No keeper should be doing that (INDFK potential) Extended leg
NO CALL
5:26 to 5:42 No keeper should be doing that DFK /PK Raised Knee
100% WRONG CALL
This was awarded as a free kick in FAVOUR of Germany!
At the VERY least a Throw in for Argentina
The Punch was debatable as a ball outside the PA but that knee into the side of the Argentinian head was 100% SFP. The fact no caution, not just no red card, was a travesty!
Cheers