Referee Information
Ask a Soccer Referee
Answers to Laws of the Game
and Practical Refereeing Questions:
Wayne Telfer
Referee Assignor and Referee
Edmonton West Soccer
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If you have a question about the laws of the game, simply email in your questions, and your questions and our answers will be posted on this page. It should be emphasized that any replies printed in this column are not official Fifa rulings but are the educated opinions of experienced referees. Email Questions
Your question:
If a goal keeper in his/her crease has possion and control of the ball, is kicked in the
hand by a player trying to play the ball out of the goal keepers possion, even if the
player was trying to play the ball. Would this be an infraction against the player
on the goal keep and if so what would be the resulting penalty. Also what would the
result be if the infraction took place in the penalty area.
Robert Habkirk
Dovercourt Community Soccer Coordinator
Answer (Apr 21, 1999):
Good question. There are a number of options a referee has in this situation. The answers
are based on the keeper having control of the ball.
The options follow:
1. Keeper is on the ground and has control of the ball. An opposing player kicks the ball out of the keeper's hand. The referee would blow his whistle and indicate a free kick for the defending team. The kick would be at the spot where the foul occurred, unless it incurred within the goal area or crease as you describe it. It would be placed on the 6 yard line nearest to where the foul occurred.
An indirect free kick would be awarded if, in the opinion of the referee, it was a
technical offence, i.e.. dangerous play.
A direct free kick would be awarded if, in the opinion of the referee, it was a penal
offence, i.e.. kicking.
Other sanctions or options the referee has depends on the severity and intent of the foul.
A referee may also choose to:
- verbally warn the player...this shows other players that the referee will
not tolerate this behaviour
- caution the player, show the player a yellow card and caution for
unsporting behaviour
- dismiss the player, show the player a red card and dismiss for serious foul
play. This would be done, in my opinion, only if there was some intent by the player to
injure the keeper. It does not matter where in the penalty area this occurs. The crease or
goal area does not afford any additional protection for the keeper. If this occurred
outside the penalty area, the keeper would be guilty of handling the ball outside the
penalty area. A direct free kick would be awarded to the opposing team and the keeper
could be further sanctioned depending on the situation. (We can save that for another
question).
2. Keeper is standing and has control of the ball. An opposing player kicks the ball out
of the keeper's hand as the keeper attempts to throw it. The referee would blow his
whistle and indicate a free kick for the defending team. The kick would be at the spot
where the foul occurred, unless it incurred within the goal area or crease. It would be
placed on the 6 yard line nearest to where the foul occurred. I would also caution the
player for unsporting behaviour as well.
Of course, each situation can be different. And what the referee does depends on the
particular incident, the age group and how they want to control the game. I believe this
should show you and others that a referee must weigh a number of things in his/her mind
before making a decision...and usually within a split second. I would also like to point
out that the decision that the referee makes is final and can't be protested. In his/her
opinion it is the correct one.
Thanks for the question. If you need further clarification , don't hesitate to ask.
Your question:
Law 3, Infringements/Sanctions says in part: If a substitute enters the field of play
without the referee's permission: - play is stopped; - the substitute is cautioned, shown
the yellow card and required to leave the field of play; - play is restarted with a
dropped ball at the place it was located when play was stopped.* (see preface)
1. Can the cautioned substitute later re-enter the game, after receiving the referee's
permission? 2. Does the player who was replaced come back into the game until a legal
substitution can be made?
Answer (Feb 17, 1999):
1. Yes. 2. He may, or the team can put in someone else (or the person in question 1, as
long as he obeys the referee's directions about entering). This is all dependent, of
course, on whether it was a substitution opportunity in the first place.
Your question:
Does the referee have any control over what happens during warm-ups before the game
starts? For example, could he stop team A from going over the the side where team B was
discussing strategy or shooting on goal and listen in or take shots on team B's keeper?
Answer (Feb 17, 1999):
What you describe is unsporting behavior by Team A. The referee can take action if either
team displays unsporting behavior prior to the game. The referee's authority begins as
soon as s/he arrives at the field and is not limited to activity during the game.
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Revised: September 03, 1999.
