Question Number: 19806

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/23/2008

RE: Select Under 12

bonita hutcheson of Brampton, Ontario Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19704

Our Goalie had caught the ball, and was holding the ball in the box, the other player, with her coach yelling at her, kicked the ball out of her hands, and then kicked again and the ball rolled back, our goalie was injured, the teams were walking away like it was not a goal, but then the ref called it a goal. We all put in 10 dollars to oppose the goalies decision, after being told we could, but they would not accept it and decided not to rule at all. They do not want to discuss the details. IS this a fair goal, should the play of been stopped once the goalie had the ball in her hands?
Or is it still free play? Thanks,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

My first question would be: to whom were you paying the $10 per person to and what for? Let me preface my comments by saying we only have your version of the events that took place. I would guess the referee didn't see things the same way you did. That said, once the goalkeeper has control of the ball with her hands, the opponents are not allowed to challenge for the ball in any manner which includes kicking the ball out of the keeper's hands. If an opponent kicked the ball out of the keeper's hands they certainly could not then proceed to kick the ball into the net and score a goal as play would stop at the instant of the infraction which would either be playing in a dangerous manner or kicking or attempting to kick the keeper. Of course, the referee's decision as to facts of play are final. This is a judgement call on the part of the referee and that is probably why no one wanted to deal with any kind of protest by you and your fellow parents. Games are protestable for misapplication of the Laws of the Game not for decisions the referee makes that you disagree with. This referee apparantly did not believe your keeper has control of the ball. But we don't really know what the referee thought as we only have your version of events.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Ref Contarino says it very well - if the referee decided the keeper did not have possession of the ball, she didn't. If the referee missed the fact that the keeper had possession, then failing to call the subsequent play by the attacker was at fault, but we have no way of knowing what the referee thought he saw.

I would recommend getting in touch with the referee's assignor, and discuss the issue. The assignor can visit with the referee in a non-threatening environment and explore this aspect of enforcing the Laws. The referee may have been right or wrong, but the best way to alter wrong thinking is through other referee channels. If the referee was right, it will reinforce good habits. If wrong, the habits can be changed.