Question Number: 15430

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/8/2007

RE: Rec Under 13

Steve C of Ottawa, Ontario Canada asks...

I have always considered that when the goalkeeper has possession of the ball all players have a duty at that point to back away and leave the keeper unchallenged in his attempt to begin the new phase of play. I have always based this on my understanding that if an attacking player tries to gain possession of the ball from the keeper they should be penalised for dangerous play insofar as they are attempting to kick the ball away from the keeper who has an arm or hand or arms or hands on the ball. I carried this thought process through in my mind to all challenges on the keeper who has possession even the keeper who is standing fully upright. But recently my understanding was challenged by another coach who pointed out to me that if it is not considered dangerous play when a regular player challenges another regular player with a legal shoulder charge, why should it be considered dangerous play when a regular player exercises a legal shoulder charge against a goalkeeper in possession of the ball with both players standing. Perhaps with this legal shoulder charge the keeper can be made to fumble and drop the ball he is holding after which the attacker can kick the dropped ball into the net. What do you make of this argument? Under what circumstances would you consider something like this either acceptable or unacceptable, and if unacceptable what is the infraction?
Thanks
Steve

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Steve a long time ago charging the keeper into his goals was a legitimate goal. Then along came the goal area, an area in which he could not be challenged. The old Law XII, [from 1937]

A player committing any of the following five offences: ....

4. charging the goalkeeper except when he

[a] is holding the ball;
[b] is obstructing an opponent;
[c] has passed outside his goal-area.

shall be penalised by the award of an indirect free kick to be taken... yada, yada 'n stuff. International FA Board Decision 15 talked about control.

All of that was removed in 1997 IFAB Dec 15 became 3 and the keeper could not be challenged inside his penalty area. It was an offence to prevent the keeper from releasing the ball from his hands [mind you, not dangerous play as you state].

Today once the keeper has possession per IFAB Dec 3 Law 12 he is safe from getting run over and thumped into his goals.

As to your mate's perceived "shoulder charge", he is mistaken!! Charging is legal ONLY when the ball is the ultimate target and the contact is made shoulder to shoulder at a level less than careless. Once that contact is made the VERY next thing that should happen is contact is made with the ball. If there is no ball contact then all that's left is foul play, to wit charging or tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball, be it the keeper or an outfield player.

Please don't teach your players this, they won't understand when a referee sends them off, which - sooner or later - will happen.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Once keeper has control of ball, all defenders cannot challenge keeper any more. The attackers need not back away, but if keeper moves off to punt or get rid of ball that attacker cannot challenge keeper. Shoulder to shoulder is not always legal and fair. If a player is using his shoulder to charge into another player, then we have a foul. If both players bump shoulder at same time in an effort to go for the ball and neither player charges the other in any way, then it is clean. Remember the pure fact that it is shoulder to shoulder does not make it ok. The referee needs to evaluate what happend exactly and make a decision on the facts. Either way once the keeper has ball, all attackers must allow the keeper to get rid of ball.

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See Question: 15447