Question Number: 35754

High School 10/15/2024

RE: School team High School

Benjamin seaton of Paradise, Ca United States of America asks...

An attacking player and a goalkeeper are in a 1 v 1 scenario the attacker takes a long touch and the goal keeper rushes out to collect it the attacker get to the ball first and takes a shot on goal (misses) both the goalkeeper and the player are unable to stop and a large collison happens both players on the ground. Who is at fault what is the ruling and call ( this took place inside the penalty area)

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ben,
as in any situation the discretion of the neutral referee reacts to what he saw, how it occurred where it occurred, when it occurred and who is at fault if any?
You say a shot was taken and missed?
So was the ball STILL in play when the after match collision occurred?
In other words was the ball on the FOP or into touch over the goal line right after the miss?
If so then the contact is not a foul but possible misconduct?
Without seeing it, to assign blame is rather pointless, but if the ball was in play and the keeper was deemed at fault then yes a PK & a caution is quite likely with a potential for red card for the force/nature of that of the challenge might apply? If the shooter thought he could get a free run at the keeper possibly a card or foul and a DFK out? If it was a simple coming together with no intent possibly no call is required!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Benjamin
Thanks for the question.

As described it reads like a coming together of two players who due to momentum are unable to stop. If that was the case then the restart is a goal kick as I assume the shot went wide.

I watched an incident in a game recently where the attacker tried to get to a 50 / 50 ball and it looked like a raised boot by the attacker. The goalkeeper looked like he was injured and the referee awarded a free kick to the goalkeeper and cautioned the attacker for a reckless challenge. Video replay showed what looked like the attacker had somewhat pulled out of the challenge and the contact was not as reckless as first seen.

So these types of incidents are fraught with difficulty as it can range from a coming together with no offence to a playing foul by either player depending on the way the referee sees it.
What I would say is that challenges that are seen to be *late* to the ball making contact with an opponent only can result in an offence being called.

I recall the infamous Schumacher challenge on Battison in the 1982 World Cup gane between France and Germany
https://youtu.be/6FtBPjqOlEg?si=P4z4Vo79Wp6c1d5f

The referee gave a goal kick. Most in the game believed it should have been a penalty and probably a red card for serious foul play. Battison was out of the game for 6 months with three broken ribs , two teeth knocked out and a neck injury having to be being stretchered off. The referee I understand when he saw it later said it should have been a penalty and a red card.
In real time he thought it was a coming together of two players at pace which is why he have the goal kick.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi Benjamin,

I agree with referee McHugh that what you describe is two players coming together - the attacker after kicking the ball away and the goalkeeper who is trying to get to the ball before it is kicked.

In the above scenario, there would be no foul called, and the game would start with a goal kick since the goal was missed.

However, the player who kicked the ball did make the play and the timing of the contact which occurred immediately after the kick toward the goal could result in a direct kick foul by the goalkeeper and a penalty kick for the attacking team.

This is definitely a judgement call by the referee on how and when the contact occurred.

Unfortunately, this does not give you a direct answer to your question.

Paradise High School soccer team has a winter soccer league schedule. Hopefully, your team will have a successful season.