Question Number: 35873

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/3/2025

RE: Adult

AEK Fan Club Of NY of ASTORIA, NY USA asks...

Hello

Once again, question for your thoughts. Did the keeper commit a penalty or not? https://youtu.be/PiqeqTadMCo?feature=shared&t=29

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi AEK
See question #35868
My opinion is that both incidents looked like penalties. Yet I do not have access to all the information which includes the referee’s own view, other camera angles, movement of the ball, player tactics in the game etc.

Anyway the game was subject to VAR and also subject to review by an observers group and it does not end for a referee just at the final whistle. The referee and VAR would outline and explain what they saw and what influenced their decision.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi AEK,

There are two penalty incidents in the only video of this game that I could access and I would say I probably agree with ref McHugh on both. However, most of these incidents are what I would call YHYBT (you have to be there) situations in that only the referee (or other officials, such as VAR if used) who were there at the time have the wherewithal to provide a meaningful input as to the correct decision.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi AEK
The action of losing ball possession was a consequence, NOT a foul.
The keeper jumped forward, grabbed the ball in the air and in essence, as he returned to the surface, bounced the ball off the head and shoulders of the non challenging attacker who was committing no foul, simply standing his ground. The keeper then drags the attacker down! In my opinion? 100% a DFK foul and thus a PK would be the correct restart.
NO red card but potential for a yellow!

The incident on the slide tackle it was hard to tell if the keeper got a toe on it or not. But the CR decided based on what he saw and VAR


I noted the handling which cause the 2nd goal to be disallowed the ball deflected off both defender and attacker arms. Entirely accidental, in my opinion, and in the old days I would have simply let play go but the LOTG do not permit any goal to result if it occurs immediately due to that contact.

As my colleagues noted the officiating team and VAR all will go over everything in the post game review. During the match they are in communication silently as well as the square box public indication.
Cheers