Question Number: 23691

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/21/2010

RE: Rec, select Under 19

gary of nashua, nh USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 101697

I was watching a reply of girls U-20 wc and I saw a play were a North Korean player went to block a clear goal with her hand. It deflected of her hand and into the net. What is the decision? a pk and a red card? or a goal and a red card?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Gary
The correct decision is a goal and as nothing has been denied to the opponents there is no need to take disciplnary action. The referee could speak to the player and inform her that had she been successful in stopping the ball entering the goal by deliberate handling, she would have been dismissed. At the highest levels the player might be cautioned but it is entirely at the discretion of the referee. It is not a mandatory caution.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The power of wait and see. In less than a second, the result was a goal - - not a penalty kick - - which is good for the offense and a player not sent off for denying a goal - - which is good for the defense.

A satisfying result for both teams requires that the referee pause before stopping play for the foul. 'Wait and see' works as well in a women's world cup match as in a youth amateur match.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Really? Denial of Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity simply means no goal was scored when a clear opportunity existed. If the goal was scored anyway, the defender who ATTEMPTED to stop it is cautioned for their efforts at the WC level - a sendoff here would be a misapplication of the Laws of the Game and grounds for a protest and replay.

Common sense tells us the goal is given (in addition to the LOTG and the Advice to Referees - USSF). There isn't a team out there that would want a PK instead of a goal, even if it meant their opponents played a man down for the rest of the game.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Ref Gary. How're things in Nashua? Haven't been there since 1970. Love southern NH! First, ask yourself what's THE single most advantageous thing in any soccer match? I'm sure you answered 'A Goal' and you would be right. This is why we are told to not blow a quick whistle for fouls in the penalty area. In this case the LAST thing the referee should do is blow the whistle and stop play as soon as the deliberate handling was seen thus denying the attacking team a goal.We've probably all done this at some time in our careers and if you haven't, DON'T! There's no worse feeling, for me anyway, then having to pull the ball out of the net and explain to the attacking team I foolishly blew my whistle too quickly and there was no goal because I stopped play before the ball went into the net.

You ask what is the decision? The BEST decision is to hold your whistle give advantage ( but don't give the advantage signal) and award the goal. Caution the player that tried to deny a goal by deliberately handling the ball for unsporting behavior and restart play with a kick-off.

IF you blow the whistle and take the ball out of the net, you must send off the player for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball, and show her the red card. Since this was done inside her penalty area, the correct restart now is a penalty kick.