Question Number: 14806

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/6/2007

RE: rec Under 13

mike desue of glassport, pa usa asks...

Define "obstruction of a goal keeper"

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Impeding is when an opponent steps in keepers path to prevent him from having a play at the ball. On a corner kick, players can stand where they want, but if they continue to stand in front of keeper after he/she moves, then it becomes an issue the referee must deal with.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Obstruction is no longer in the Laws of the Game. It was removed in the Great Condensation Rewrite in 1997. Ref Mueller explained about the foul of impeding. Or perhaps you were thinking of the offense of preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands? Either one of those infractions is restarted with an indirect free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mike,
impeding is the new buzz word in law. There are three specific items in which an opponent could obstruct a keeper from performing a legal challenge to play the ball. The DFK penal fouls are of course contact based or specific in the attempt. Where as an INDFK offence would involve NO contact at all

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee:
(1)plays in a dangerous manner
( a high bouncing ball face level the keeper reaches out to grab it but pulls out of the challenge as the opponent's foot is in his face to keep from getting hurt)
(2)impedes the progress of an opponent
(blocks his progress towards the ball when the ball is not within playing distance like a basket ball pick)
(3)prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands;
(as the keeper has control of the ball in his hands wants to throw or punt that ball within the six seconds and up until that kick is away the opponet can not challenge the keeper in any manner which prevents the release of the ball into play)
Cheers