Question Number: 15292

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/26/2007

RE: Adult

William Koss of Sterling, VA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15267

Richard Dawson's response is quite helpful. If the keeper has contact with the ball he should not be contacted, but if the contact is unavoidable or if the keeper subsequently fouls the striker even while in control is at the root of my question.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the keeper has control and subsequently fouls an opponent it's a foul. I guess I don't see what you're getting at.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The referee has the task to decide who is at fault, if anyone, when there is contact. Not all contact is a foul, whether the players involved include the goalkeeper or not. Keepers certainly can foul their opponents, sometimes even while holding the ball. We get paid the big bucks because we have the difficult decisions to make out there.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

There will be times when the striker will try and kick the ball just as the keeper grabs it. Or the momentum and direction within the challenge will cause the player/keeper to collide these could be considered accidental and may not be a foul by either party.
If the keeper has ball control the striker must make an effort to avoid him IF possible. If a keeper say uses the ball to push the striker away or puts a shoulder down and needlessly continues his run into the striker or the striker needlessly continues his run into the keeper these actions are a foul. A referee must decide if contact was unavoidable or simply careless reckless or excessive. Any contact judged to be a foul be it a charge, push, trip, strike or whatever is based on the actions of the player whether he has the ball or not. A keeper jumps up and grabs a ball raising a knee into the chest of the striker who was trying to head the ball. In my opinion keeper had ball but fouled the opponent
If a striker has ball possession and keeper tries to reach around the legs and grabs the ball so the striker steps on his hand it could be accidental or it could be a foul one would need to see it to have a decent opinion.
The main point here ball possession or not you are responsible for your actions! Cheers