Question Number: 34391

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/23/2021

RE: Rec Under 19

David Bober of Waynesville, NC United States asks...

During a U19 game My ref issued a red card to the Goalie for excessive force...he slid cleats up into 2 players..one of which was his own player..after the ejection which happened inside the plenty box he gave the attacking team a PK. Is this the correct call as far as the PK goes? We had a discussion with parents sfter the game and they disagreed with the PK.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI David ,
A slide tackle performed at high speed with exposed cleats into ANYONE is likely going to draw the big red sleigh ride.

Violent conduct (VC) is generally an act of excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball, however, if the ball is in play and a player commits a physical offence inside the field of play directed at or against a team-mate, substitute, substituted player, team official, match official, spectator or any other person, regardless of whether contact is made, a direct free kick or penalty kick is awarded

You mention there was an opponent involved so if there was a legitimate challenge but performed in an excessive or unsafe manner only against an opponent could it be SFP (serious foul play) I suspect since the team mate perhaps took the brunt of the force used onlookers were thinking a collision of team mates rather than a foul on the opponent?

It might appear harsh that a teammate can create this goal scoring opportunity by using VC against his own team. No doubt the idea it's not a foul against an opponent has the parents chattering? The collision could be unintended and seen as accidental but ONLY verbal abuse is restarted with an INDFK. It is only a guess that the referee here determined it was VC and not an accidental collision nor a SFP foul . It must of been ugly. Hopefull no serious injuries.
If the actual contact occured inside the keeper's PA, the PK is indeed the correct restart.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi David,
If a goalkeeper inside the penalty area slides cleats up into 2 players, one of which is an opponent then it seems entirely possible for the referee to both award a penalty and issue a red card to the goalkeeper for an illegal challenge on an opponent involving the use of excessive force.

Whether this was the correct decision is pretty difficult to say without seeing the actual incident but it sounds like a perfectly feasible outcome, given the facts you have outlined.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
Without seeing the incident I believe that the referee saw the challenge as serious foul play by the goalkeeper for which he was sent off. As the offence happened inside the penalty area the restart must be a penalty kick.

The Laws of the Game tells us and I quote
** A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play. Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.**

So if the goalkeeper slid with his cleats showing towards two players one of which was an opponent then there is a high probability if not certain that it was endangering the safety of an opponent so it was SFP once contact was made with the opponent which is a red card and a penalty kick.

Anyway it is a judgement call for the referee and as he deemed it was SFP then it was a red card. The restart must be a direct free kick restart and as it happened inside the penalty area it must be a penalty kick.

I’m not sure what the argument could be. Perhaps they did not see the slide with the cleats showing just a slide that goalkeepers make in many games. I see some goalkeepers deciding that for protection reasons to go feet first with cleats showing which is highly dangerous. We don't allow outfield players to challenge in this manner and goalkeepers cannot do it either. If the parents agreed with the red card then the penalty must follow.

Have a look at this video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dmZcFRB-1wo
The first challenge was a penalty kick and if the referee wanted to the goalkeeper could have been red carded. At a minimum it was a certain caution
The goalkeeper paid not attention to the advice from the referee and he committed the exact same offence this time making heavy contact which was a stonewall red card. As the second offence happened outside the penalty area it could only be a direct free kick. Justice prevailed with the free kick converted! No place in the game for cleats up challenges either lunging or sliding in this manner. I suspect the referee was sorry he did not deal with the first challenge rather than having a word.