Question Number: 15967

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/7/2007

RE: Competitive Under 17

Bryan of Naperville, IL usa asks...

How do you determine that the goalie has control of the ball, I have seen it called many ways. Also when stopping the play because an attacker plays the ball which the goalie has control (whether arguable or not) when should the whistle be blown? In one game I played in my team had a corner kick and the ball was bouncing around and from my angle it looked as if the ball was still loose after the goalie made first contact with the ball and the ball bounced around for another 15 seconds never returning to their goalie and my team scores, but the referee calls it back saying the goalie had control. Was this the proper way to call this?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Bryan, if you review law 12 decision 2 it states
Decision 2
The goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball by touching
it with any part of his hand or arms. Possession of the ball includes
the goalkeeper deliberately parrying the ball, but does not include the circumstances where, in the opinion of the referee, the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper, for example after he has made a save.
Note is says touching not trapped or only hands, so in fact a ball in the crook of the arm of a keeper lying on the ground is as unplayable as if he was standing holding the ball in both hands. Now if the ball bobbles or rolls away and there is no definable contact that ball is available to be contested. There will always be situations where the ball, hand and feet are there pretty much at the same time and when it will be unclear that an attacker should give way. The clause of control by touch is OBVIOUSLY in my opinion a safety issue and to some extent I think we must lean slightly in the keeper's favour on such calls given the serious nature of what can occur if indiscriminent wacking away at a loose ball is permitted. We are looking at broken fingers and possible head injury. It is recognized that a keeper is by nature of his position and duties will put himself into danger trying to prevent goals. We must balance the right to score with the right to consider the ball saved. The proper call is the one the match referee decides upon that day, that match, that incident and as a decsion concerning play it is uncontestable .
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The whistle should be blown as soon as the referee feels the need to call it. The later the whistle - the harder to sell the call. Control is any part of hands or arms on ball. If ball richotets off of keeper, then it is not considered control. The keeper cannot be challenged when he has control of the ball and if a player prevents him from releasing ball with hands, the restart is an IFK at spot of foul.