Question Number: 15627

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/28/2007

RE: Rec Adult

Ilya Ostrovski of Toronto, Ontario Canada asks...

Hi!

We had this situation last week. There was a low shot / cross coming from inside the edge of the penalty box close to goal line. A player on the defending team inside the 6-yard box stretched with his legs to block the shot and stopped the ball (almost dead on the spot). While he (defenceman)was lying in the prone position, the goalie jumped over the defenceman's legs and grabbed the ball. Should this play be whistled for a back pass and a IFK?

Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

My opinion is this is NOT a deliberate kick of the ball to the keeper. My bet is the defender didn't even know where the keeper was.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ilya,
if the referee is of the opinion it was a defending action to play the ball away from goal or stop the shot and not intended as a deliberate kick to the keeper then there is no foul! Just because a ball contacts the foot we still must determine if the deliberate action was to get the ball to the keeper. I consider this more as a deflection! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No because the defender did not deliberatly kick it to the keeper. His intention was on stopping the ball and not passing it to keeper.

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

See Question: 26768