Question Number: 35861

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/13/2025

RE: Rec Under 18

Jose of Chicago, Illinois USA asks...

Can you clarify how the LOTG address the interaction between an attacking player and a GK on a corner kick? In two recent examples, a player placed his body in front of the GK, during a CK, the ball enters the goal, and one ref disallows the goal calling interference while another ref allows the goal claiming that, as long as both attacking player and GK are not grabbing/pushing each other, both have the same right to position their bodies wherever they want. I've seen refs stopping play before the CK to alert players not to touch the GK, and I've seen GK pushing players around as they jostle for position before and during a CK. Can you help?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jose
Thanks for the question.

First of all every player is entitled to their space on the field of play. So if every player just stood there a referee would not have to do anything.

Now we know that is never the case and in many situations referees are faced with players jostling each other before and during play. Referee may intervene by warning players that foul play will be punished.

When the ball is put into play a referee has to judge what action is legal and what is an offence. That is a judgement call based on what the referees observes and whether the action steps beyond incidental contact, legal charging, just being there and pushing, pull, illegal charging, impeding etc. are the players going to play the ball or is the action one of only moving to impede, block etc.

Tolerance levels vary between referees and some will adopt a strict approach on contact on goalkeepers including, blocking, pushing, charging, holding while others will perhaps only penalise more obvious egregious contact.

Have a look at this video
https://youtu.be/IRSiHj0Ngb4?si=1cQCS68cGO4dtgz0

The video author believed it was a foul yet it was not given. This was subject to a VAR review so there was no obvious offence that VAR officials felt that the referee missed.
Part of the problem in my opinion was the defending teams’s zonal marking leaving the goalkeeper exposed to players being in and around his space. Being there and trying to play the ball making it awkward for a goalkeeper is a distance from committing an obvious offence such as impeding, pushing holding etc
Perhaps another referee on another day may call an offence and it is a judgement call based on whether any of the penal fouls are present.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi Jose,

I prefer to use the NFHS high school rule when determining if impeding has occurred.

This rule states: Impeding is the deliberate act of a player that moves into the path of a player to block, obstruct, slow down, or force a change in direction when the ball is not within playing distance. Being in the way of an opponent is not an offense and is different than moving into the way.

The key word in the determination of impeding is movement.

In the instances you mention, as the referee, I would look at the movement of the goalkeeper and the attacking player. Is the goalkeeper moving or just standing there. Is the attacking player also just standing there or moving to block, obstruct, slow down, or force a change of direction by the goalkeeper. Based on my observation I would make a call of impeding or no call at all if impeding did not occur.

From the your examples, I would guess the first referee was correct since he/she saw the attacker impeding the goalkeeper. The second referee was incorrect in stating that pushing and/or grabbing had to occur for a foul to occur.

Thank you for this question. Impeding of the goalkeeper is a foul that frequently occurs in youth level competition.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jose,
off corners, free kick or throw in restarts close to the PA the scrums in front of Goal are legendary for controversy due to the equality of the foul potential of the reality, who has a hold of or is pushing who at any given moment?

I recall a professional match where the Winnipeg coach placed 4 attackers in a (+ formation) tight to the Vancouver keeper in middle of + hoping to draw that keeper into a foul trying to escape.

Most pro coaches are well read up on Law changes, they try to use them to their advantage, if they can figure out away to do so.

Offside traps play the ball through to one guy obviously offside only to dummy the ball to another player who is free and open.

The head the ball back to the keeper on the goal kicks inside the PA when they first changed the LOTG so the ball did NOT have to exit first but the opponents were not allowed inside the PA. Took some time but they fixed that flaw making it for what it was circumvention.

As my colleagues stated, all players can stand and own that bit of grass BUT they can not
-shadow- their opponents' movements and claim that same right! If you're pursuing an opposing player grabbing pushing, holding, bumping into people without the ball being in playing distance as a legitimate challenge for possession then chances are that is a foul.

Whereas impeding with minor contact might be over looked as trifling if it appears as if neither is having the best of it, a referee must look at it in totality as to the outcome it has on active play. On the incoming high arcing balls into their area the keeper will jump and or reach up over their head making them vulnerable to being undercut! You can't really charge shoulder to shoulder as their shoulder is not available.

Keepers are gifted with the ability to use their hands, & the LOTG state if they grasp a ball with the hands upon possession of the ball they are -not- allowed to be challenged. Attackers have to be aware and be prepared to bail out of any challenge rather than carry through on it, once this occurs. I would say the keepers have a definite advantage given their safety is often at the higher risk level we carefully evaluate any attacker seeking to create chaos. .

That does not exempt keepers from being the giver as opposed to the recipient of a foul. Jumping up in the air with raised knee in a forward motion or extending the arm out in a punching motion. Or simply pushing or tripping players out of the way to get to the ball making them liable for the foul and usually a penalty kick against.

Each referee is aware of the LOTG but each referee will have their own management style and understanding in how to deal with physicality between two teams
Cheers