Question Number: 23840

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/27/2010

RE: Competive Adult

Jorge A. Lorza of Las Vegas, NV USA asks...

A substitute who is warming up behind his own net when his team is in danger of conceding a goal, enters the playing field and prevents the goal with his foot. What action will the referee take?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Wow, since this is copied nearly verbatim from FIFA's 2006 Questions and Answers, I'm surprised we need to answer.

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13. A substitute, warming up behind his own goal, enters the field of play and prevents the ball entering the goal with his foot. What action does the referee take?
The referee stops play, cautions the substitute for unsporting behaviour and the match is restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team where the ball was when play was stopped *.
13.1. If the player prevents the goal with his hand, what action does the referee take?
The referee stops play and sends-off the substitute for denying the opposing team a goal by deliberately handling the ball and the match is restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team where the ball was when play was stopped *.
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I added the follow-up question just for interest's sake. The asterisks are to a footnote about special considerations inside the goal area, when the ball is placed on the 6 yard line.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jorge
Why was the substitute there in the 1st place so that he could do that?. Good refereeing is about prevention rather than cure.
Anyway the referee stops play and he cautions the substitute for unsporting behaviour, asks him to leave the field of play and restarts with an indirect free kick from where play was stopped.
If the substitute stopped the ball entering the goal with his hand he is dismissed for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity/goal and the restart is an indirect free kick from where play was stopped.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You must have an old copy of the 2006 Q&A from FIFA. There's a lot of useful material in there but be aware that any official policy put out by FIFA either in LOTG or elsewhere supersedes what is in the Q&A

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

This question has also been officially answered by USSF: http://www.askasoccerreferee.com/?p=2519