Question Number: 15383

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/5/2007

RE: Other

pete atkin of rotherham, uk asks...

a g/keeper catches the ball.then pushes it up his jersey runs the length of the field, gets to the other goal line lifts his jersey up and kicks ball into the net, is it a goal

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Of course not. It's unsporting behavior and the goalkeeper should be cautioned. At the very least, it's playing in a dangerous manner, because the goalkeeper has put himself in a position where it would be dangerous for an opponent to attempt to play the ball. Also, as he opens up his shirt at the other end of the field, the shirt can be considered an extension of his hand, so now he is using his shirt to help him handle the ball.

As my colleagues said, the play should never have gotten as far as the other end of the field. Put a stop to it the moment it starts.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No and the keeper should have been stopped the moment he put the ball under his shirt. This is classic example of unsporting behavior.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

This keeper won't take one step! As soon as it goes under his jersey the whistle sounds. He is cautioned and shown the yellow card for unsporting behaviour. The restart of play is indirect free kick where the goalkeeper was when the ball disappeared, subject to the special circumstances of Law 8.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

This is totally unlawful. The moment I see this he gets cautioned for 'UB'. That means play is stopped and the goalkeeper's opponents are awarded and indirect free kick at the point of the offense. OR if he somehow figured a way to make this occur outside the penalty area without carrying it over the line to do it, it would still be considered deliberate handling as the shirt comes to act like his arm. Then a yellow card for 'UB' and a direct kick are in order.

Either way - no goalkeeper is going to get away with this (or at least they shouldn't).