Question Number: 15991

Law 14 - Penalty kick 7/11/2007

RE: Adult

Tony of Sydney, Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15974

Further to question 15974. During a penalty kick what is the restart if the ball hits or touches the keepers cap that has accidentally come off his head say by the wind or in the act of diving?

What is the restart,if any,if the ball happens to hit a piece of a players equipment that happens to be lying on the field in general play? An IDFK to the opposing team or dropped ball?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Tony,
if the equipment is there because of active play and fell off play continues with the player who lost the item required to put the equipment malfunction right within a reasonable time. Say a shoe or glove or a loose shinguard or a hat/toque.

If the items were thrown onto the pitch by outside agents and not part of the player's equipment then we could declare them as outside interference remove them and then drop the ball if they actually interupted play.

If the person that threw them was a player or sub then we might DFK or INDFK or and possibly caution or send off but we could also ignore them or pick them up and toss them off the field as in say I find a rock or a piece of glass if they were only there so to speak.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the hat blew of on accident...then play on. If the equipment came off by accident, then play on. The player should be instructed to correct their equipment though ASAP. If an outside agent threw the object, then the correct action would be to stop play and resume with a drop ball. If the object was thrown by a player, then the object is considered an extension of the hand and a dfk or PK is awarded (unless keeper in own Penalty area).

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Also, if the keeper threw his hat to deflect the ball it would be considered an extension of his hand and if this denied a goal he could NOT be sent off but would be cautioned. I know that's extremely unlikely but, hey, it could happen