Question Number: 27469

Law 5 - The Referee 5/22/2013

RE: Semi pro Other

Brad of Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada asks...

Hi all:

Former semi pro goalkeeper here.

My question is regarding the advantage rule. I have seen fellow goalies, many a time, receive kicks,
Elbows, and strikes to the body while the goalie attempts to gain possession...or even whilst the keeper has possession of the ball. Many referees decide to play advantage and let play continue, even when the keeper has the ball. Is there a possible explanation under the Laws that I am not seeing? I would figure the ref would stop play and discipline appropriately since there is no 'advantage' to be gained when the keeper has possession.

Thanks all, much appreciated!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brad
Generally when advantage is played, when the goalkeeper or for that matter any other player is fouled, it rarely involves a reckless challenge necessitating a caution. Typical careless fouls of impeding, holding, pushing etc are rarely cautioned except for persistent fouling or match control purposes. Once it gets to a caution type foul referees are very mindful of not taking action immediately.
Also many goalkeepers by their demeanour want to get on with play and either want to punt the ball quickly or throw the ball out to a team mate in space rather than take a free kick off the ground in the goal area. Referees do take a cue from the goalkeepers who brush off these minor fouls and want to get on with play. Also the advice given to referees is not to play advantage in that third of the field of play and certainly not on a cautionable offence. I certainly advise young referees not to ignore these goalkeeper situations and they do so at their peril as they have the propensity to escalate into something more serious.
I recall a game a few seasons ago when a goalkeeper caught a ball from a corner and as he rushed to release a team mate on his left wing with a throw, he was impeded by an opponent who ran across him but it did not stop him releasing the ball. I looked at the situation and saw it was a great advantage and the ball was dribbled right up the field with almost a goal being scored at the other end. Now while this was going on I could hear the goalkeeper being none to happy about the action of the opponent trying to prevent the release. This persisted even when a goal was almost scored to the point where I had to delay the restart at the other end to go back to the goalkeeper to have a 'word' with him. I told him it was a minor foul, it did not prevent the release of the ball, advantage was played with a goal almost being scored. Had the opponent prevented the release then it was an IDFK and maybe a caution. Anyway this 'incident' persisted for a good while after this to the detriment of the game.
The phrase "damned if you do, damned if you don't" springs to mind.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Brad: The answer is the restart. My experience is that most keepers would prefer the ball in their hands (at the 18) to a free kick where the foul occurred.

Your question is a very valuable insight for referees, however. Doing nothing is perceived as allowing free shots at the keeper. That is bad for match management.

It can be wise to stop play (kids) or tell the keeper to hold the ball (adults) and then publicly chew out the opponent who just fouled the keeper. Then, the referee can restart by a drop ball that the keeper can pick up (kids) or tell the keeper that its ok to release the ball (adults). The key for referees is that you don't have to call the foul to deal with the foul.