Let play continue 5 of 11 polledBlue attacking Red. Shot at the goal, the 6-foot tall Red GK jumps to the cross bar and hangs from it. Ball hits his chest and he saves it. What action(s) would you take?
Allowing play to continue ignores that soccer was not designed to be played by hanging from the crossbar. Actions such as this bring the game into disrepute. Similar type behavior might be a goalkeeper lying down in the goal area during a match, or lighting a cigarette on the field.
Stop play and caution the player 3 of 11 polled
CORRECT ANSWER. Bringing the game into disrepute falls under unsporting behavior, a cautionable offense. Thus, play should be stopped to issue the caution. The restart for such an action is an IFK. As the ball was in the goal area at the point of stoppage, it must be brought out to the 6y line (line parallel to and 6yds from the goal line). The restart will be for the attacking team (Blue).
Stop play, send off GK 0 of 11 polled
To choose this, you would have to be able to say this was a denying-goal-scoring opportunity (DGSO). When you consider the GK was horsing around or showing off, and would have saved the shot whether hanging from crossbar or not, this would not meet DGSO. Had this been a defender other than the GK and the ball touched the player's arm as he hung from the crossbar, you would have had a DGSO.
Stop play, caution GK, penalty kick 3 of 11 polled
This answer would violate the Laws. The reason for stopping play is misconduct, to issue a caution or send off, and the restart to that is IFK, NOT a penalty kick. In this case, even if the ball had touched the player's hands or arms, the result would be the same as the player was the GK in his own penalty area.
Thanks for taking the poll. Make any comments to this poll by clicking the link below.
Posts
2 comments:
"Actions such as this bring the game into disrepute."
Disagree. I think this action would get a laugh from the players and spectators 90% of the time. That puts it under the "fun" part of fair, fun and safe. I'd let it go.
However, if it isn't done in fun, if it is intended to taunt the other team or otherwise gets out of hand, then I'd at least have a word with the keeper, maybe issue a caution.
Adam:
While I realize this kind of activity might seem merely silly or trivial to some, referees cannot sanction it by ignoring it.
The game was not designed to be played by using a field article as an agent to a player's play on the ball, especially saving a goal.
Other similar acts that would be considered "bring the game into disrepute" would include removing one's jersey to celebrate a goal (because it's considered a taunt to the opposing team); stepping off or vaulting off a teammate's back to gain extra height to save the ball; lying down in the penalty area as a goalkeeper.
The overarching spirit of the game is fair play. Those actions I listed are not considered fair play and if allowed, they would make a mockery of the game from the way it is meant to be played.
The referee is the gatekeeper of the spirit of the game.
Post a Comment