Question Number: 2792

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

RE: adult rec leagues

Dan Hilton of Saco, ME USA asks...

The ball in is play. The keeper leagally picks up the ball and attempts to punt or throw the ball from his/her penalty area. What is the call when: .An opponent attempts to interfere with the keeper's punt or throw?.An opponent inadvertantly gets in the way of the punt or throw?.A teammate inadvertantly gets in the way of the punt or throw? .(all situations occur within penalty area)

Answer provided by Referee haselden

As far as an opponent interfering with the keeper's throw or punt, this is definitely an infringement of the laes but the penalty can be a matter of judgement. Law 12 says to award an IFK if the opponent, "prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball with his hands." Whether they are successful or not in preventing the keeper from putting the ball into play or not, I give them a strong verbal warning. I the attempt is repeated, I caution them for unsporting behavior. If the offense is deliberate and if the circumstances in the game warrant it, I might skip the warning and give the caution...For the other two situations there is usually no call. I look for deliberate infractions of this nature.

Answer provided by Referee Victor Matheson

Ok, the opponent deliberately gets in the way is easy: IFK and either a yellow card or a "verbal admonishment." The teammate accidently gets in the way is also easy: play on, no infraction. The opponent accidentally gets in the way is the hard one. If you believe that the opponent wasn't trying to get in the way at all and the goalkeeper crashed into him or kicked the ball into him, then you just play-on. The judgement comes in deciding whether it was intentional or not. My general recommendation is that you err on the side of caution and call the foul if there is any question at all of as to whether this was intentional.