Question Number: 18002

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/26/2007

RE: Under 10B1 Under 11

Declan Byrne of Dublin, Ireland asks...

Hello,

Can you tell me what the punishment should be in an U10s match if the following happens?

The opposition have a shot at goal and score but a player on the defending team handles the ball deliberately, but the ball has already crossed the line and the goal is given.

Should the player be sent off?

Thanks.

Declan.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Ask yourself, has the player denied an obvious goal? If the goal was scored, it wasn't denied was it? No send off.

For the older ages, a caution is appropriate if a player attempts to deny a goal but fails in the attempt. In this particular case, I'm not sure whether you mean the handling occured after the ball was fully over the line, or if the handling was first but was ineffectual at keeping the ball out of the net.

For U10s, you might be better off talking to the player and reminding him that if the ball hadn't gone into the goal, he'd be taking an early bath.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

So we have a player deliberately handling the ball after it has crossed the goal line for a goal. This is not at all like a player deliberately handling the ball to collect it for a throw-in, goal kick or corner kick, is it? Digging the ball out of the net with your hand[s] after a goal has been taken by your opponents is how to get it out of the net. And you want to punish it? Not hardly sir...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If the ball had COMPLETELY crossed the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts with no infringment by the team scoring the goal. The application of the hand on the ball occurs AFTER the ball is out of play into touch. There is no punishmen,t there is no foul and no misconduct. It is what it is, a goal with a kick off following to restart!
If the deliberate handling were to occur just prior to th ball crossing the goal line, as an attempt to stop the goal and the ball still deflectes off the hands and in, the restart remains a kick off, the goal counts and the referee could caution and show a yellow card to the player for the USB of trying to stop the goal! This assumes the referee refrains from whistling play dead until AFTER the ball is into the back of the goal! Cheers