Question Number: 17960

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/19/2007

RE: Rec Under 15

Ed of Essington, PA US asks...

If a goalie has the ball in his hands and the opposing player knocks it out of his hand into the goal is the ref correct in not allowing the goal to count.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes the refereee is. Also..the guilty attacker should probably be cautioned for unsporting behavior.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Once the ball is in the hands of the goalkeeper no one else is permitted to play it. It is that simple. Anyone attempting to play the ball is guilty of foul play. The referee is right to deny a goal taken after the ball is knocked out of the keeper's hands. He is well within the Law of he chooses to caution and show the yellow card for unsporting behavior as well.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Do you want this to happen to your goalkeeper? Of course not. That's why the Laws are written to protect goalkeepers from this kind of slamming. Many moons ago, there was no restriction on charging a goalkeeper in possession into the goal, but that became seen as unsporting (to say the least!) so the Laws were amended to forbid anyone from challenging the goalkeeper in possession. And then, because GK's are a crafty lot, they had to add the bit about not being able to retain possession for more than 6 seconds without penalty.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 18009