Question Number: 27972

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 11/4/2013

RE: Recreation Under 11

Brid Sarazin of NAPA, CA United States asks...

Hello,
My 10 year old son plays Rec soccer. Yesterday, as goalie he caught the ball in his hands on the line. The referee called it a goal. Everyone including the coaches of both teams was surprised as it really was questionable, my son was so close to the front of the goal/line and he caught it straight on.

I would love your take on the matter.

According to the FIFA website, the ball has to be over the line- not on it. In fact, one of their drawings indicates a ball on the line and they clearly state this is not a goal.

With the ref's decision final: c'est la vie but I am just curious?

Thank you.
Brid Sarazin

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brid
One of the most contentious issues in the game.
Did all of the ball cross all of the goal line for a goal to be awared?
This year in the English Premier League a new goal line technology system has been introduced. It is able to instantly tell the referee by electronic means that all of the ball has in fact fully crossed all of the goal line. If any part of the ball is touching the line or the plane of the line it is not a goal.
Have alook at it here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk-rzl558L0

Unfortunately for the rest of us we will have to continue to rely on the eye to make the judgement. Any doubt which includes a poor viewing position to judge should be in favour of No Goal.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Yes, the ball must be completely across the line for a goal to be scored. I'm sure that's what the referee saw. Whether he saw it correctly or incorrectly, his opinion becomes a fact of play, and that's that.

Now if the referee admitted that the ball wasn't completely across the line but he was awarding a goal anyway, that's something entirely different. In that case, the referee is admitting that he is misapplying the Laws of the Game, and the game would be protestable (subject to any league restrictions).

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

All of the ball must cross all of the line between the posts and under the crossbar to be a goal. But, as you say, the decision of the referee is final.