Question Number: 35334

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/19/2024

RE: Senior County 5 Adult

Colin Davies of Bry, Sussex England asks...

A debate! Goalkeeper has the ball in his hands! The forward is 5 yards away, keeper kicks the ball forward jumps up with outstretched leg not impeding him , the ball hits the forward and goes into the goal, the forward was outside the penalty area when this occured, how flexible is this law ? He doesn't impede or try to kick the ball when the keeper is in control ?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Colin
As described I would see no offence as the opponent has not impeded nor prevented the release of the ball by the goalkeeper and it should be seen as an interception.

You might recall the incident in the 2018 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
https://youtu.be/GnqDUMKy8O4?si=QbfcQJpgY26x7gYB

Benzema in the opinion of the referee intercepted the ball and his action did not prevent release nor did it interfere with the goalkeeper.
Throw in the fact that the opponent was outside the penalty area in your example it would be seen as even more of an interception in such a scenario.

Now at the time there were questions asked as to the legality of Benzema’s actions. Many believe that the goalkeeper should not be approached in any way yet the Law says and I quote ** prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the hands or kicks or attempts to kick the ball when the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it**
In the Benzema incident it is my opinion that release was not prevented nor was there any attempt to kick the ball while it was being released. It is in the opinion of the referee on the day. Liverpool did not complain much if any about the decision including the goalkeeper. I think most felt the keeper stuffed up.
Now at grassroots there can be a fine line as to the opinion of the referee as to how close an opponent can be. Most situations that I see there is always a clear action of being close to the kick / throw in which case it is the IDFK offence. When it gets to 5 yards it is clearly well away from the goalkeeper yet in a dynamic moving situation I doubt that on a regular punt an opponent could get close to the ball in the air? Unless of course the opponent was close enough to have an impact.
Here are some examples
https://youtu.be/nD90LfNrPqM?si=oak9B-qZAhq2BM_5
https://youtu.be/9uO9A6s8_vI?si=YQl5NRj_U6Sb3n-W

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Colin,

It's a good question, and a tricky one as there is so little guidance in the LOTG here. First thing I'll mention is that inside or outside the PA is irrelevant.

Now, getting into the more complex matters. We need to think about what the intent of the law is in making it an offence to prevent the GK from releasing the ball. The purpose of the law is that the GK is supposed to be able to send the ball, unobstructed, upfield. There is absolutely no point in the law if player are allowed to prevent the GK from gaining any distance. Just because the ball has left his hand or foot it doesn't, I believe, mean it has been fully released, in the intent of the law.

That's why I have to disagree with my esteemed colleague on the Liverpool/Real Madrid incident . He stuck his foot out to block the throw less than 2 yards from the GK. That's blocking the release. I've seen some argue that the GK shouldn't have thrown it near him - my counter is that the GK has every right to throw it close to an opponent knowing the opponent can't block the release! Now, for me, the timing is key - like a player within 10 yards intercepting a FK. If he doesn't move to the ball until after it's released, then for me that's legal. If he started moving to the ball before - as in that video - it's blocking the release.

So, going back to your question - yes, jumping up to block a kick can be an offence. The grey area is the question of how far away can they be and legally intercept.

A couple of yards, I'd say no. 5 yards (assuming we're really talking about 5 yards here), and we're probably into the territory of a legal interception rather than blocking the kick.

For me, I think the only video Ref McHugh posted that shouldn't have been called is the one that was - the last one. The attacker is standing completely still there. Remember - no player ever has an obligation to more away from where they're standing, unless it's respecting the distance at a restart. He has every right to stand still. He just wouldn't have the right to stick out a leg or jump up.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Colin.
based on your description of events it appears to be a good goal off a keeper's mistake of directing the ball into an area the opponent was occupying

Once keepers legally grab a ball with their hands inside their PA they have has 6 seconds or thereabouts, to release the ball back into play and CAN NOT be challenged while doing so,. Personally I take a dim view of the opposition lurking about trying to pretend they are withdrawing when in fact they are not. They realign their paths to create a problem for the keepers forcing them to navigate a serpentine path which is certainly better than the old 4 steps yet once he begins to move and toss a ball preparing to punt it I often see the early movement of opponents seeking to intervene.

If we examine the current wording of the LOTG in preventing the release while the keeper can run around or past an opposing player who is staying stationary or backpaddling away they are not restricting movement or the ability to throw or kick the ball. However if they are shadowing the keeper or deliberately changing their paths to cut across, in front they are restricting his movement options thus interfering

What is questionable, unlike a free kick, where the opposition can challenge the moment the ball is kicked and moved. Here we have a ball tossed directly as a release or tossed then kicked, thereby creating a time lag of a supposed non opportunity to challenge? When the keeper decides to release the ball , if not throwing it with the arm they often toss the ball up and away into the air out in front of them just prior to kicking it . Should they be challenged during this action likely seen as interfering an INDFK infringement and likely cautionable

Cheers