Question Number: 17520

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 10/26/2007

russ of macon, gA USA asks...

Can a defensive player be inside the goal, goalie or other player, and knock the ball out of the goal before it touches the net?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The defenders can certainly try. Only the goalkeeper would be pemitted to use her hands, of course.

If the ball crosses completely over the line before it is knocked out of the goal, a goal has been scored. Assistant Referees get paid the big bucks (ha!) to get into position to see whether or not the ball is across the line.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Absolutely, if he has gone there during the normal run of play. Of course if the ball has entirely crossed the goal line either on the ground or in the air under the cross bar and between the posts a goal has been already scored and his knocking the ball out, even with his hands isn't going to change that fact.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I'm not sure why the net is important in your question, since FIFA doesn't even require nets (although one hardly ever plays without them). If a defensive player is defending his goal and happens to step back into the goal during the course of play and heads the ball back out of the goal before it completely crosses the goal line, yes, he can do that. If that player is the goalkeeper, he can use his hands to keep the ball out of the goal as well as any other part of his body. If the ball gets far enough to touch the net, it's probably already across the goal line, so any further touches by defenders are moot.