Question Number: 9115

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play

RE: Rec Adult

hernan of Oakland, CA USA asks...

After I shot a goal, a fan from the other team ran onto the field and tried to stop the ball one foot from the goal line. Contact with the ball was made, but it continued to roll into the net anyway. The goal was not allowed and instead a free kick was given. What is the correct restart of the game?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Herman here we have a good case of an outside agent interfering with play. The correct restart, in US Soccer, is a dropped ball because we can not play advantage in this situation. See Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game paragraph 5.6. ..Here is what US Soccer says about the subject in the Entry Level Course: ..OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE..If the ball is prevented from passing over the goal line by an ?outside agent? ..A spectator ..An animal ..Another ball ..Any other thing.. ..Drop the ball where contact was made except in the goal area. ..End Quote..Note: It says -prevented from crossing-..Opinion Follows:..The Spirit of the Game should insist that because the ball crossed the goal line in a manner normally resulting in a goal, regardless of the attempt to stop it, we should allow the goal to stand. The alert referee (outside the USA) could apply advantage to the situation and allow the goal to stand. The offense (HUGE stretch here) of a spectator entering and interfering with the ball failed to stop the goal so the referee's action of allowing play to continue would be to their benefit. This would be a tough sell and an assessor would have an old fashioned fit... ..End opinion? ..Drop the ball, be right!..Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Goal has to be disallowed for interference by outside agent and the proper restart is a dropped ball taken at the six yard line parallel to where the fan stopped the ball. The fan should be asked to leave the vicinity. As much as I'd like to award the goal, the correct thing is to drop the ball.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

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