Question Number: 17519

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/26/2007

RE: REC Under 15

WalterRobinson of Pawling, NY USA asks...

If contact is made with the goal keeper, who is playing the ball, by an attacker in the penalty box, is this a foul?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Walter need a bit more buddy? If the keeper has a ball in hand possession an attacker must make every effort to avoid contact and allow the free release of that ball back into play . If the keeper and the attacker are contesting for the ball and a collision occurs either one might be partially or solely at fault, would need to see it. Shoulder to shoulder as they pursue the ball is fine as is for any set of opponents.
Referees NEED to be proactive not reactive!
It could be anything from PK and a send off against your keeper to a dfk out and a send off against your opponent attacker depending on what and how it occurs . Generally any physical contact is a push /charge in the bump if the keeper has the ball in his hands. If a referee calls it then a ball on the deck at 6 yards might not be as good as a punt at 18 yards but a referee must be wary of considering minor things as trivial if the players choose not to see it the same. You can play advantage in some cases but be sure to rip the strip of the player at fault to stop retaliation.

If the attacker was simply too close or hassling as to impede then an indfk awarded for failure to allow the ball release . Again rip a strip off the attacker, the keeper can lose his cool and pump a ball into his face if a referee waits too long to deal with the delay garbage. To be forced into sending the keeper off because the referee did not prevent the situation from getting to that point is poor situational awareness. Cheers.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It depends on the contact - when, how hard and how come. Playing the ball could mean anything from dribbling it with the feet to picking it up with the hands. Unless the goalkeeper is touching the ball with his hand or arms in such a way as to establish control, then he can be fairly challenged for a ball. Once he has it in his possession and control - this is slightly different than playing it for goalkeepers - an attacker is not allowed to try and dispossess him of the ball. That offense would warrant an indirect free kick at a minimum and possibly a direct free kick. Any other contact would have to be judged on the fairness - angle, velocity, whether the other player is playing the ball or the keeper, etc.