Question Number: 26298

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 5/6/2012

RE: rec Under 10

Jeremy Dobbin of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

During a game a shot was heading towards the goal clipped the post and would have gone in but for the goalkeepers full water bottle next to the post. It bounced of the bottle and the goal keeper picked it up.

Is it a goal a penalty a free kick or a lucky escape for the keeper?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Oh dear!

The referee really should ensure that the keeper's water bottle is kept right back off the goal line - and this is why. This is actually the first I've ever heard of it actually becoming an issue.

The laws of the game state that the ball must wholly cross the goal line in order for a goal to be awarded. If that does not occur, then a goal cannot be awarded.

A penalty kick can only occur when one of ten penal fouls (direct free kick offence) occurs - this has not happened here.

The water bottle can only be considered to be 'outside interference', in which case a drop ball is awarded. In this scenario, the drop ball would occur on the edge of the goal area, directly in front of where the inicdent occurred.

The goalkeeper could, potentially, be cautioned for unsporting behaviour, but at this age I'd say this is unnecessary for something accidental.

Really though, that still comes down to being a lucky escape for the keeper, but that's the only valid resolution to a situation that should never have occurred.

It may be worthwhile contacting your local referee's association, raising the issue so they can address this at their next meeting to ensure all referees are properly educated in this manner.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

HI Jeremy
As the ball has not crossed the goal line a goal cannot be awarded. As the water bottle is outside interference the correct restart is a dropped ball on the goal area line opposite the goal post after the offending bottle has been removed.
As it was accidental and it was not done intentionally the referee does not need to take any further action.
What it does point to is the need for referees to be vigilant in these matter and to ensure that there are no objects that can prevent the ball entering the goal or indeed outside interference from say substitutes, spectators loitering around the goal area. These situation cause all sorts of problems for the referee and prevention is always better than the cure.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I've asked goalkeepers to move their water bottle back from the goal line, but usually they have been placed *outside* the goal, not inside. But if I miss it, there's not much to do about it. No, it shouldn't be there. But I can't see everything.

As an object that shouldn't be there placed on or near to the field, it would qualify as an outside agent in my mind. Usually that term refers to people, animals or birds, but an inanimate object placed there by a person would also qualify. Interference with an outside agent is cause for a dropped ball restart.