Question Number: 16321

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/15/2007

RE: Rec Adult

Geoffrey of Laguna Beach, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16281

The question stated that in the opinion of the referee the actions of the player caused the bobble. The responses covered valid goal, double touches, unsporting behavior and playing in a dangerous manner. Why not interfering with the goalkeeper's release of the ball? If the player's actions caused the goalkeeper to bobble the ball, one possible interpretation is the goalkeeper had possession and then lost possession due to the actions of the player. I do realize one had to be there to see what happened and numerous interpretations based on the question are possible. Without being there, it seemed to me that valid goal, playing in a dangerous manner, unsporting behavior, and interfering with goalkeeper release were the decision set the referee had to quickly choose from to determine the proper restart of play.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I don't think any of us looked at the play that way. If the ball was clearly in the goalkeeper's possession, then any action of the opponent that led to the ball being bobbled would indeed be interfering with the keeper.

However the original question [16281] says the ball bounced off the goalpost. I think we on the panel thought this meant a mad scramble for an open ball. The goalkeeper then bobbled the ball because she was flustered with the PK kicker nearby. There would be nothing wrong in that scenario, as long as the kicker didn't actually touch the ball before any other player.

A good example of why you had to be there, though. Thanks for writing.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Interfering with the goalkeeper's release of the ball never entered my mind because she wasn't trying to release it she was trying to gain control.

I don't believe any referee should take the opinion an opponent is interfering with a release if the keeper has not yet gained possession of the ball.

Regards,