Fouls on the Goalkeeper

Goalkeepers receive special protection under the Laws. Any careless, reckless or forceful charge is a foul. Preventing a goalkeeper from releasing the ball is also an offence. Referees are instructed to scrutinize every challenge on the goalkeeper.

The full rule

The goalkeeper is in a uniquely vulnerable position — often airborne, stretched, or on the ground with no ability to protect themselves. Law 12 instructs referees to scrutinize every charge against the goalkeeper carefully. The only legal challenge is a fair shoulder charge when the ball is within playing distance. Any charge that is careless, reckless, or uses excessive force is a direct free kick offence. If the goalkeeper is on the ground, stretched out, or in a position exposing vulnerable areas, a challenge using the foot is never fair. Attackers also cannot prevent a goalkeeper from releasing the ball from their hands, or attempt to kick the ball while the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it — this results in an indirect free kick.

Key points

✓Only fair shoulder charge is permitted against the goalkeeper
✓Any careless, reckless or forceful challenge on the goalkeeper is a direct free kick
✓Goalkeeper on the ground cannot be charged with the foot — always a foul
✓Preventing goalkeeper releasing the ball = indirect free kick
✓Attempting to kick ball while goalkeeper is releasing it = indirect free kick
✓Goalkeeper collision with attacker: referee judges who initiated contact
✓If goalkeeper is fouled inside their own area, the free kick is taken from the spot of the foul

Scenarios

Scenario 1

Attacker bundles goalkeeper over the line

No goal

A corner is delivered and an attacker charges into the goalkeeper with their body, pushing them over the line with the ball.

Correct call: Direct free kick and goal disallowed. The charge was not shoulder-to-shoulder and the goalkeeper was not in a position to be fairly charged. The attacker made deliberate body contact to push the goalkeeper.

Common mistake: Allowing the goal because the ball crossed the line. The challenge on the goalkeeper was a foul — the goal is invalid regardless of the ball crossing the line.

Scenario 2

Goalkeeper on the ground, attacker challenges with foot

Foul

A goalkeeper dives to save a shot and is on the ground. An attacker challenges for the loose ball with their foot, making contact with the goalkeeper.

Correct call: Direct free kick. A goalkeeper on the ground exposing vulnerable areas cannot be challenged with the foot under any circumstances. This is always a foul.

Common mistake: Allowing play because the attacker was going for the ball. Going for the ball does not excuse dangerous contact on a defenceless goalkeeper.

Scenario 3

Attacker kicks ball out of goalkeeper's hands

Foul

A goalkeeper holds the ball and is in the process of releasing it. An attacker kicks the ball out of their hands.

Correct call: Indirect free kick. Preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball or kicking it while they are releasing it is a specific offence under Law 12.

Common mistake: Allowing play because the attacker played the ball. The protection of the goalkeeper during release is explicit in the Laws — the ball cannot be challenged at that moment.

Scenario 4

Goalkeeper and attacker both go for the ball

No foul

A goalkeeper rushes out and an attacker also goes for the ball. They collide with each other. Both were going for the ball.

Correct call: Referee must judge who initiated the contact and whether either player was careless or reckless. If it was a genuine 50/50 with no excessive force from either player, play continues. If the attacker charged carelessly into the goalkeeper, it is a foul.

Common mistake: Automatically giving the foul to the goalkeeper. A genuine collision where both players were going for the ball is not necessarily a foul — the referee must judge the nature of the contact.