Question Number: 9727

Law 14 - Penalty kick

Norm Frank of , USA asks...

A penalty kick is taken in a u14 game, ball hits keeper directly, goes up in air, back to player who took the PK, shoots into net. Referee awards goal kick. Keeeper immediatly makes goal kick to restart play. Referee alows play to continue. All goes wild. AR on side and opposing coach all agree that there was a goal. How does ref resolve situation, if at all.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee has made a mistake. The goalkeeper HAS NOT. He has done exactly as I would have done, started play quickly so the referee's mistake can not be undone. All going wild means everyone is cheering for the goalkeeper's fortuitous quick restart of play, right? AR and coach talking: this never happens -- just isn't done. Shame Shame... What can be done is a protest concerning the referee's misapplication of the Laws of the Game. The restart of play should be kickoff because a goal was scored, not goal kick. The referee can not resolve this one; an assessor on his next match may be able to. A referee instructor at his mandatory training sessions, before his next match, can try to fix the problem... Fat chance though, these referees usually think they are right and do not take advice because the assessor and instructor are wrong and it is their match, their decision and their reputation. Fix him or loose him -- he's bad for football. Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee made a mistake but play has been restarted so he cannot change it. The keeper was very clever and aware of the Laws and did just as he should have done. If this goal was a deciding one, there are grounds for protest as the referee clearly did not apply the Law in this case. If the referee acknowledges his mistake, he is free to write a report outlining his mistake and send it to the proper authorities

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

See Question: 12957

See Question: 14695