Foul vs Goal Allowed Help: Goalkeeper protection rules
I need a little help reviewing a decision from yesterday: I’m reviewing the incident with head of refereeing and scheduling in the area, for possible coach reprimand and for referee education.
Referee is a teenager, performs well.
Rival teams playing U13 B team vs crosstown rival A team.
Cold rain and windy.
Fair play amongst the boys all game, it’s only the adults on one team, especially one coach, who are fiery and have a history. The boys used to play on the same team and some are friends at school.
B team winger makes a right sided shot, keeper doesn’t catch it, reflects to the left, B team attacker runs to kick in the rebound, makes ball contact and ball in the goal. Simple, right?
Except the goalkeeper dove for the ball, missed, and the attacker then leaps over the goalkeeper to avoid a direct collision and mid air his leg hits the GK in the head, attacker ends up rolling into the net.
GK goes to ground holding his head, eventually comes off, A team coach comes out onto the pitch screaming at the Ref that the B team attacker should have a red card and be sent off.
Referee confers with their linesman, who was in a great position to see the incident. No foul, no dangerous or reckless play called. Goal.
A team coach yells at the referee for 5 minutes, no card given. A team coach wants the player who has 2 goals, an assist, and has hit the post/crossbar twice to be sent off. (Guess who they play next week, each other again). A team parents yell at the referee, he talks to them for 2 minutes and explains.
Continue play. 3-1
A few plays later, a 50/50 shoulder challenge initiated by A team defender and B team attacker results in B team attacker winning the throw OOB.
A team coach calls all his team in, says they aren’t playing the last 10 minutes because he doesn’t want his team to get hurt. Calls one of the B team 12 year old boys a fucking bitch directly to them. B team boys and A team boys all acted very kind and professional.
Yes, there are things to address about controlling the coach and giving cards to the coach. Yes, it will be recommended that the A team coach be punished under league rules for directing insults to the opposing team.
The question is: was that incident a foul and/or a card?
Sometimes the goalies get over protected and the other players have a right to position on the field
Edit: thanks for everyone’s responses, they were very helpful. Being a referee is difficult, but these tough calls and reflection are good for ref development.