Question Number: 16251

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/8/2007

RE: Adult

tony of sydney, nsw australia asks...

if a player is fouled by the goalkeeper in a one on one situation what colour card should be shown to the keeper

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Sounds like you want to know if the keeper should be sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, however without more information, it is impossible to say. If the keeper fouls an attacker in the keeper's penalty area, the punishment is a penalty kick - already a severe penalty. If the foul was reckless, then a caution maybe in order as well. If the foul inside the PA was violent or excessively forceful, then yes the keeper can be sent off, but that is a judgment for the referee to make. As for denying obvious goalscoring opportunities, one must keep in mind that is the keeper's reason for existence and balance that with the requirements of the Laws for determining if an OGSO has occurred.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

This is what the Laws of the Game have to say about determining whether a foul has denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO):

[quote]
Referees should consider the following circumstances when deciding
whether to send off a player for denying a goal or an obvious goalscoring
opportunity:
* The distance between the offence and the goal
* The likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball
* The direction of the play
* The location and number of defenders
* The offence which denies an opponent an obvious goalscoring
opportunity may be an offence that incurs a direct free kick or an
indirect free kick.
[end quote]

Your description only addresses the location and number of defenders ("one on one"). The other aspects would have to be met before the referee would send off the goalkeeper and show the red card for DOGSO.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Do not assume that all fouls within the penalty area committed by the goalkeeper must result in a misconduct of some sort (caution/yellow card, send-off/red card). See Will my colleagues have said about this, their advice is very appropriate.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

That depends on the nature of the foul. Also, if the attacker had an obvious goal scoring opportunity, then it should be a sendoff.