Question Number: 35684

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 9/8/2024

RE: Re Under 16

Stephen of Derby, Derbyshire Uk asks...

Drop ball or play on?

I was officiating a game when after a corner kick was headed clear a player on the edge of the box volleyed the ball back in. I tried to get out of the way but prevented the ball from a good goal scoring opportunity/ stooped the attack. The ball bounced off me backwards and out towards the sidelines. The attacking team retained possession. After a couple of twists and turns the ball was crossed back into the box and a goal was scored.

I awarded the goal as in my option the contact with ball stopped a goal scoring opportunity, didn’t create it. The ball went backwards and away from goal, giving defenders the opportunity to defend.

Was this the correct decision. Or, is it s ested for the opposition keeper to take?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Stephen
As you know it is a dropped ball when the ball touches a match official, remains on the field of play and:
# a team starts a promising attack or
# the ball goes directly into the goal or
# the team in possession of the ball changes.

From your description it appears that it was a shot on goal that hit you and bounced back outside the penalty yet it did not change possession.
Obviously we can rule out going directly into the goal and a change of possession so we are left with the starts a promising attack.

There is an element of asking what would have happened had the ball not hit you in the penalty area? That can be a difficult assessment. It could though be going wide which will have a goal kick restart. It could be going to an opponent?
I suspect you are asking the question as the conceding team may have expected a drópped ball after a significant change of direction.
I personally think it is too significant a contact to ignore and the DB was the expected option under Law 9. I see incidents where lesser contact on referees results in DBs and only insignificant contact where little changed is play on such as a deflected pass to the intended player,
It will require an apology to the attacking team for stopping the shot before the DB.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Stephen,
Now if a ball contacts the referee but, in the opinion of that official, it does not alter the play
they can permit play to continue, as it is only allowing what was to continue but if you are INSIDE the PA, the ONLY option, IF you stopped play due to the ball striking you, the correct restart is a DB to the keeper. Now you could think the shot that struck you was catchable by the keeper or perhaps wide and that contact by you changed the outcome so maybe best to do the DB but in hindsight you can only reflect on supposition. Think a bit on why were you inside the PA and your location/position? Was it the correct spot to be in and you were unlucky or could there have been better vision and alternate places to be?
Cheers