Question Number: 15697

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/4/2007

RE: SELECT Under 14

Mike B. of Eden Prairie, Mn USA asks...

My daughter stepped in front of the opposing team's goalie (my daughter was outside the penalty area) while the goalie was punting the ball up the field. No contact was made and the ball was punted upfield. The ref stopped play and gave my daughter a yellow card for not allowing the goalie adequate room or space even though my daughter was outside the box. Since I've never seen this called before in soccer, was this a correct call? It was not a crucial play in the game and the score was 5-1 (our favor) with five minutes to play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Where your daughter was is immaterial. the referee obviously felt your daughter positioned herself to interfere with the keeper's release of the ball which includes kicking the ball after it has left the keeper's hands. A keeper may release the ball inside the penalty area and kick it 2-3 yards OUTSIDE the penalty area. No opponent is allowed to interfere with this which, by stepping in front of the keeper, your daughter did. I suspect she won't do that again.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 12 says,
"An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee:
//snip//
? prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands"

Even though your daughter was outside the penalty area, she got in the way or nearly in the way of the goalkeeper. The referee would be correct for stopping the game and issuing the indirect free kick. Since the keeper got the punt off successfully though, this action might just as well have been regarded as triflng and no call needed to be made. Instead the referee would tell your daughter not to repeat her actions.

It is also listed as a form of unsporting behavior in Advice to Referees section 12.28.1. As with many other cautions which do not impact the safety of the players, it would not necessarily be required at the first instance of the behavior.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The referee could very well have been correct to caution your daughter - a player may not interfere with the goalkeeper's release of the ball. If she did, she could be cautioned for unsporting behavior.