Question Number: 23815

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/23/2010

RE: Competative Adult

Al Sinopoli of Covington, LA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23794

Referees McHugh and Voshol:

I am aware that DOGSOH does not apply to a keeper inside his penalty area. However, I do not see a reference where as Referee McHugh states, that touching the ball by the goalkeeper in the penalty area as part of a 'passback' cannot be considered for plain old DOGSO (all the references in this effect I see are for 'handling').

Plain old DOGSO, as I'm sure you will agree, can be applied to an DFK or IDFK foul. The 4 'D's I believe are present in my description (and if one is not present, one may be able to argue that the foul can still be considered tactical). Please let me know where there is a reference that exempts a goalkeeper

I could not find anything in the latest Advice to Referees (ATR) that excludes a goalkeeper from DOGSO, only for DOGSOH provided he/she is within the penalty area. In 12.37 of the ATR, it reminds us that DOGOSO includes '...fouls for which the restart is an indirect kick. An example would be a player, including the goalkeeper, hanging from the crossbar to play the ball away with his or her body'.

As referee Voshol points out, this may be a loophole, but to me it seems like too big of one.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 12 says it: 'denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)'

It says it doesn't apply to the goalkeeper - can't be any more specific than that.

Also Advice 12.36 says, "This would apply to any player other than the goalkeeper in his or her own penalty area who handles a ball to prevent it from entering the goal, whether the ball was last played by the opposing team or not."

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Your question is not uncommon, but it stretches the beautiful logic inherent in the game. Keepers are exempt from DOGSO if they use their hands on the ball inside the penalty area, no matter whether it is an IDFK offense or not, no matter whether it is basic DOGSO or DOGSOH.

If they use their hands to trip an opponent or hold an opponent or push an opponent, we're back to offenses that can get a keeper sent off for DOGSO. However, the keeper who tries to handle the ball from a teammate's kick, and who touches the ball but doesn't keep it out of the goal will have a goal awarded - advantage does apply.