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.

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