Question Number: 14353

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/3/2006

Gil Acedo of Pasadena, CA 91107 asks...

This question is a follow up to question 14276

In regards to question #14276, where the question is asked whether, when a GK makes a save while standing off the field of play and inside the goal, the goal should be counted. There was a consensus amongst the entire referee panel, or at least those that answered, that the goal would be counted, except in the situation as described by Referee Contarino:

"If [the GK] has left the field of play without the permission of the referee or re-entered without permission, it would be midconduct."

Would the GK then be sent off for DOGSO while comitting a violation punishable by a free kick?

Thanks for your time.

Gil Acedo

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Gil. Always glad to hear from you. I added the hypothetical off the field without permission just to be thorough. In reality, I don't see how he could be inside the net other than through normal course of play. I was anticpating someone coming up with that as often happens on this site. That said, interesting question but I don't think #5 reason for send-off applies here. He hasn't DOGSO to an opponent moving towards the goal. he has denied a goal by handling the ball which, of course, he cannot be sent off for. Still, restart with IFK for opponents at the six if referee calls misconduct. Gil, as always, Jim Allen answers better than I could. The keeper's denying a goal in this case for misconduct is similar to the below question answered on Mr. Allens official USSF site recently.


USSF answer (October 11, 2006):
If a player deliberately kicks the ball towards his (or her) own goalkeeper and the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball, thus denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity, the restart is an indirect free kick from where the offence occurred, bearing in mind the special circumstances covered in Law 8.

If the referee believes that the goalkeeper knew that without this illegal intervention, the ball would enter the goal, the referee could take action. The goalkeeper's action could be considered as unsporting behavior. The argument would be that the goalkeeper could have chosen not to handle the ball deliberately but rather to use another part of his body to change the path of the ball.

In short, an indirect free kick and a definite caution is the correct action to take if, in the opinion of the referee, the goalkeeper knew that without the illegal intervention the ball would enter the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I agree with my colleague here. The player was not moving toward goal.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Gil,
no it is impossible for the keeper to be sent off for deliberately handling the ball. It is a huge stretch to think the keeper is off the field of play other than by momentume in stopping a scoring opportunity within his netted area. Although INDFK offences can result in DOGSO criteria applying, if the indfk was awarded for some type of entering or leaving without permission it is not an infringememt that can result in DOGSO. There are some inconsistancies within the laws and to blanket any indfk offence as possible DOGSO material is rare and only theoretically possible as the restrictions and special circumstances of certain situations often leave us scratching our heads. Cheers