Question Number: 19915

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 9/9/2008

RE: comp Under 11

john of Scotts Valley, CA USA asks...

From a game last week. Player takes a direct free kick which hits the crossbar and bounces down either over or onto the line. From my vantage point I couldn't tell, but as the ball subsequently bounced back into the field, I would presume it didn't cross the line. However, the referee awards a goal, and the scoring team carries the ball back to the centre. The 'conceding' team object and ask the ref to consult with the AR, who replies that he wasn't sure it crossed the line.

The referee then awards a goal kick, which is obviously wrong, as if it had crossed the line, it would have been a goal, if he had not blown for a goal, the game should have continued.

What would be the correct restart?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If play is stopped for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws, the restart is a dropped ball. Since 'almost scoring a goal' isn't listed as a valid stoppage, the correct thing to do would be a dropped ball.

I wonder why the referee changed his call. He wouldn't have stopped play if he didn't see it as a goal. On conferring with the AR he is given an inconclusive shrug of an opinion as to whether the ball was over the line or not. Given the ref is sure and the AR is not, why didn't they stick with the ref's original opinion?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the referee decides the goal is to be disallowed the only possible restart is a dropped ball.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If the ball has not crossed the goal line and under crossbar between the posts and a goal was incorrectly awarded the correct retart is a drop ball for an inadvertant MESSY very bad whistle on the 6 yard goal area line in front of the goal.
Report this to the local referee administrator so he can seek some remedial training for all the officials involved from the mechanics to the decision itself this appears messy. It is possible the incorrect restart could be protested. As a dropball versus a goal kick in the 6 yard area certainly affect the scoring opportunity given only one team benifits.
Cheers