Question Number: 35827

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/2/2024

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Hello,

one situation from Czech League please.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DewVHuBQarg

(I hope it works abroad too.)

I'd rather describe it. The attacker lightly touches the passed ball. The goalkeeper jumps to the ground at his feet. The attacker hits the goalkeeper's hand with the sole of his foot. Then the ball ends up in the goal. The goal is awarded.

Could it be that if the goalkeeper is lying on the ground, it is difficult not to hit him?

Thank you very much!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Petr,
Merry Christmas
No offside good goal. The Keeper was stretched out and missed the ball. Unfortunately that direction took him into the incoming onside player who was trying to play the ball. Keepers are definitely at risk throwing themselves into the feet of opposing players. Yet the player did not angle his run to deliberately or even carelessly endanger or slide through or into the keeper. A straight legged high energy slide directed into the body of a keeper with no other result possible than a foot or cleats imbedded into flesh at some point is most definitely a foul, here nothing like that occurred!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Petr
Thanks for the question and the video.

Having watched it a few times and from the angles provided I see nothing that would rule the goal out.
The attacker is onside when the ball is played by his team mate and he move forward with an outstretched boot to play the ball which he does with a slight touch. Without the touch which happens away from the goalkeeper the ball looked like it was going wide.
His momentum and that of the goalkeeper result in them coming together with the forward getting a knock on the shin and the goalkeeper seeming to complain of contact on the hand.
As we have said many times soccer is a contact sport and this is nothing more than a coming together through momentum of two players trying to play the ball after the ball was played. There is nothing reckless in the manner of either attempts to play the ball.

It reminds me of one in an U12 game and much the same with the young goalkeeper jumping at the feet of an attacker inside the goal area. The goalkeeper was late to the ball which ended up in the goal and the goalkeeper stayed down after the contact. The coach was not happy yet it certainly was not the attackers fault as he just stretched to play the ball and then a coming together. If the attacker had a raised boot in a reckless manner or played the ball in the grasp of the goalkeeper that would be an offence and most likely a caution.

Players and teams will use every effort to get goals chalked off citing foul challenge or whatever.
The goal was good here with no offence committed.

A few refereeing observations.
The assistant referee has no problem with the goal and the AR turns to run up the line as a goal signal.
The referee is somewhat slow to move forward to enter the penalty area on the first through ball.
It appears that the referee blows the whistle to signal the goal. The Law book advises that a whistle is not needed for a clear goal.