Law 12: Fouls and MisconductDenying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)·Page 124, 2026/27 edition
Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)
The provision as it is printed, and everything on Ruleside that turns on it.
The following must be considered:
· distance between the offence and the goal
Verdicts that turn on it 1
Walk the tree to any of these and this clause is part of the answer.
Explained in the rules library 1
The plain-language pages that build on this provision.
Applied in these incidents 7
Real decisions where this clause decided what should have happened.
- Bosnia's defender correctly sent off for a DOGSO foul outside the boxSwitzerland vs Bosnia
- Konsa's missed tackle should have been a penalty and a yellow card, not just a penaltyEngland vs Ghana
- Montes sent off for late challenge denying a clear chanceMexico vs South Africa
- Ngoy sent off after backpass error gifts Taremi a clear run at goalBelgium vs Iran
- Sithole sent off for dragging down Gutiérrez: DOGSO outside the boxMexico vs South Africa
- Goalkeeper's flying challenge correctly downgraded to a yellowSwitzerland vs Canada
- Zizo held off the ball, but it happened outside the boxBelgium vs Egypt
Questions that ask it 2
Points in a walk where the reader is deciding this provision.
The Laws of the Game are published by The IFAB and quoted here for the purpose of explaining the decisions on this site. Ruleside is not affiliated with The IFAB or FIFA. Every clause of Fouls and Misconduct that Ruleside cites.