Question Number: 16276

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/11/2007

RE: Rec Adult

Natasja of Toronto, Ontario Canada asks...

I know it's the ref's responsibility to protect the goalie, but does the goalie give up any of that protection when she/he leaves the 18-yard box? In a recent game, I was player offense and there was a chipped ball over the defender, I ran for it. The goalie also came towards the ball. We were both running fairly quickly with an almost equal chance of getting the ball, and then we collided, while both touching the ball. At the time of the collision she was out of the 18 yard box. I was yellow carded. Does this seem like the right call?

Answer provided by Referee Jon Sommer

Yes because the referee made it....however I have a problem with what you have said. The goalkeeper gets no more or less protection in law than any other player on the field of play, anywhere on the field of play.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

Answering your question specifically, the goal keeper only appears to be "protected" if you will, by the referee. In the course of playing their position, the GK is afforded the right to use their hands within their own penalty area (except when it has been deliberately kicked to them by their own teammate). In the act of diving in or stooping down to make a play for the ball their face/head is in a more compromised position. If an opponent kicks at the ball while the ball is in the goal keeper's possession, they could get kicked in the head. The ball can be safely kicked at while an outfield player has possession of the ball (at their feet). Once the goal keeper has left their own penalty area, they lose the right to use their hands. Now they have the same restrictions as any other player. Are they still "protected" by the referee? Well, yes. They are under the same protection of the referee as any other field player.

As to whether or not the referee in your specific match made the right call...I cannot say. It is possible that you did exactly as you described and that nothing was wrong with what you did, but that the referee is misguided in their belief regarding plays made by the goal keeper while out of their own penalty area. It's also possible that in the opinion of the referee, you came in harder, possibly more reckless than the opponent, or that you may have done something immediately after the collision which led the referee to believe that you played in a reckless manner. I wasn't there and I didn't see what the referee saw. I can merely give you the different options to consider.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

From your description, it sounds like the referee might have determined you wouldn't get to the ball first, but kept going in hard anyway - termed recklessly - and thus the yellow card. But, I wasn't there, and the referee isn't here to speak to the specifics. The fact that the keeper was out of her penalty area simply means she can play the ball only as any other player would - no hands. I agree totally with what Referees Sommer and Hoelscher state - the goalkeeper gets no more or less protection out of the penalty area than any other player. Inside the penalty area, it is the same story, the safety and ability to fairly play the ball belongs to all players equally, but the circumstances have changed slightly because of the requirements of the goalkeeper position and because there are specific sections of the Laws of the Game that deal with what keepers can and cannot do, and what other players can and cannot do when dealing with a keeper.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Natasja,
the referee must protect ALL Players! The keeper is a player like all others except he has special handling privligedges inside his penalty area.

You do not get cautioned for a collision just because it is with a keeper!
A referee must see the challenge as USB or reckless in some manner.

Given the referee showed you a yellow card we can surmiss he held that opinion. While I can guess you hold a different opinion and since we did not see if you were overly stretched best agree to disagree and move on or perhaps pay heed to the force and manner of the challenge!
Cheers