Question Number: 26532

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 7/4/2012

RE: pro Adult

trevor mcbride of conneaut, ohio usa asks...

If a player shoots a ball and the goalie catches said ball, but the goalie is behind the line of the goal; does this constitute as a goal, or does it matter where the ball is, according to the line. I was thinking that the goalie is an extention of the ball which is behind the line, but my father said that it does not matter as long as the ball is inside of the field of play and not across the line all of the way.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

All that matters is the location of the ball - the position of the keeper is irrelevant.

If the ball hasn't wholly crossed the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, then no goal has been scored.

The same principle (location of the ball, not the keeper) also applies in situations where the keeper is outside the penalty area and catches a ball that's inside or on the line, or when he's on the line and handles a ball that's outside the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Trevor
Your father is correct. It is the position of the ball that counts not the position of the player.
So all of the ball must cross all of the goal line for a goal to be awarded.
Your thinking applies to some sports such as rugby but it does not apply to soccer.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Law 10 is very clear. A goal is scored only when all of the ball has wholly crossed the goal line in between the goalposts and under the crossbar. The location of the keeper is irrelevant. The keeper can be all the way in the goal and if his hands stop the ball on the goal line, it is not a goal, as the ball has not wholly crossed the line.