Question Number: 23574

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 6/28/2010

RE: Sunday league Adult

Nick Poling of Fareham, Hampshire UK asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23052

Two variations on this question:-

1) If the goalkeeper kicked the ball out, it cleared the penalty area but the wind blew it back toward the goal and then the keeper put out a hand, touching the ball but the ball still goes in the net. The ball is in play but has been handled by the keeper before being touched by another player. IDFK?

2) The keeper throws the ball out, wind catches it and it blows back and goes into the net. Goal?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nick
Lets start with the easy one No 2. It is a goal no matter what goal the GK throws the ball into. As long as the GK has the ball in his hands legally no offence has been committed so its all legal. If the GK commits an offence and he scores an own goal, advantage can and should be played with the goal awarded.
Now No 1 is less straight forward. It has been accepted practise that advantage can only be played on Law 12 offences. That certainly is the present instruction in the US to referees by USSF. The Laws of the Game does not clearly state that however and simply says the referee may play advantage whenever an infringement or offence occurs.
Law 16 clearly states that an IDFK should be awarded on a double touch violation with no mention of advantage. So IMO the goal should not be allowed and the restart is an IDFK from where the GK touched the ball with his hands.
There are more likely circumstances in this situation where the referee has to decide what is the best decision for the game. Say the ball is miskicked outside the penalty area on a goal kick by the goal keeper. A chase to the ball by a forward and the GK results in the GK kicking the ball off the attacker with it rebounding into the goal. In that case I would award the goal rather than the IDFK for the double touch violation. I doubt anyone would have a problem with that decision and indeed the ref would have greater difficulty in disallowing it by awarding an IDFK to the attack. In general though it is highly unlikely that advantage would be played on a double touch violation.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

1) How is the keeper kicking the ball? There are different answers if:

1a) Goal kick or free kick from inside the penalty area - no goal can be scored against yourself. If the keeper did not touch the ball and it went in, it would be a corner kick. If the keeper handles it, it's an IFK inbound for the keeper being the first player to touch the ball following the goal/free kick (second touch). The referee might be able to apply advantage and allow the goal, but that is specifically not allowed by the USSF. I believe it would be allowed by the FA.

1b) Keeper punts or dropkicks the ball following hand possession - apply the advantage and allow the goal.

1c) Keeper never had hand possession of the ball, and is merely kicking it in active play. Now we have to go back and remember how the keeper got the ball in the first place. If it was deliberately kicked or thrown in to him by a teammate, he is not allowed to handle the ball - but advantage should be applied. Any other way the ball got to him, the keeper is free to handle the ball and there is no offense.

2) If the goalkeeper is throwing the ball out, he has had hand possession. He is not allowed to handle the ball a second time, but the referee should apply advantage and allow the goal if it goes into the net despite the handling.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1.If this is a goal kick, you do not award the goal and restart where the keeper committed the second touch or the six yard line if he touched it inside the goal area. violation Law 16
2.If this is a free kick coming out of the penalty area same thing as this is a violation of Law 13.
3. If this is during active play, it's a violation of Law 12 so you award advantage and give the goal


Active play and the keeper didn't even commit a second touch so no question it's a goal