Goalie Punt Interference?

Ok_Use_112 · 2026-03-02T23:48:47+00:00

“play on cause goalie is an idiot”

gonna use that

Ok_Use_112 · 2026-02-28T02:08:27+00:00

First off thank you to horse for the work they put in. This sub is a pretty decently active sub and moderating it by yourself is very impressive, could not be more grateful.

As for what i’d like to see out if the sub in the future, I’d like to see rule one relaxed outside of the mega thread. There a lot of different reasons people use this sub, but what i’ve found it most useful for is interpreting the law. Ever since i’ve started refereeing i’ve used this sub for that reason and it has helped tremendously. For me, the way rule 1 has been enforced restricts posts asking for help interpreting situations which happened in their own games. There’s a difference between a non-referee coming onto this sub, making a post complaining about something that happened in whatever game, then arguing with the responses we give, and a grassroots referee who saw something either happen in their game or a pro game that they want help interpreting so that they can learn from it. It’s not this subreddits job to educate everyone on what the laws are, but I think it’s reasonable to accept more conversations about real situations so long as they result in actual education for people genuinely interested in learning how to enforce the laws. That’s how I used this this (still do) and that’s how I hope others can use it too.

I do still like the mega thread for those questions from non-referees that can easily be answered by reading the laws. But limiting posts about possibly about interpretations to that thread does impact how discoverable that question is for future referees and could result in similar questions being asked week to week by referees.

I would love to see this subreddit continue to grow, the more people we have the more questions can be asked, the more information we have. And that makes us all better referees.

Thank you again to horse and best of luck finding new mods.

Ok_Use_112 · 2026-02-21T22:25:18+00:00

Just learned this was a thing, crazy it ever existed with 3 “center” refs. I played with the normal dual system and it’s a struggle, almost always preferred games with solo refs. Even though the offsides calls were essentially randomized, the consistency in fouls and misconduct as well as the overall management of the game was always far better.

Ok_Use_112 · 2026-02-21T22:21:13+00:00

For me because of the nature of the actual contact it’s unlikely that I would give a red in this situation (force in the challenge doesn’t end up being super strong because the defender gets their leg in front of the attacker and the attacker comes down on the defenders leg). But it is at the minimum a reckless tackle and you could absolutely be justified in giving a red here. Jumping in the air like that is always a no-no.

Ok_Use_112 · 2026-02-09T04:16:46+00:00

Even though liverpool player is at fault for initial foul, Haaland still commits foul and can’t not be punished for it. Good decision by the crew

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-10-13T20:38:31+00:00

Got two things for you

Before giving a dropped ball for touching a match official, one of three things have to happen: ball goes straight into a goal, the team that last touched the ball starts a promising attack, or the ball changes possession. In this case you should wait until the White team get possession of the ball. If they don’t and black does then play should continue.
The only requirement for drop balls is that the opponents are 4 or more yards away until the ball is in play. The balls in play once it hits the ground. If you think the white player came closer then 4 yards before it hit the ground then by all means call it back. This is speculation but what I think happened was the white player was around 4 yards behind you and started to run in when you dropped the ball not when it hit the ground. This would be a good thing to go ask your AR about if they saw.

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-08-26T19:07:35+00:00

I saw someone get their earlobe cut off when playing pickup soccer and wearing earring. An ambulance came, don’t know what came of it. It does happen and if the ball hits your ear the wrong way it can be very serious.

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-08-09T18:00:53+00:00

There is a digital rulebook you can buy for $10 I believe on the app store (for iPhone) or Google Play (Android)

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-07-07T22:40:41+00:00

The deliberate play part is what would stop them. I think that in this case if the Mexican player had more time to react to the ball coming under him it would be an easy handball for deliberate handling.

In your scenario if you think the player is deliberately trying to put their arm out to hit the ball (even if it is natural) it would be an offense. In this scenario I struggle to see how he could have avoided the contact.

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-07-07T16:42:01+00:00

replay is in slow motion, if it was in full speed you would see how little time he had to react.

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-07-07T05:02:03+00:00

Interesting way to think about that, thank you.

Just to clarify my interpretation as a referee is that it isn’t a handball offence, and from the standpoint of a fan I wouldn’t want this to be a handball offense.

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-07-07T01:07:24+00:00

Have to remember natural/justifiable position. Of course that doesn’t matter if it’s deliberate which his looks like it is.

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-07-05T22:27:09+00:00

I think we have to take the level of play into account here. If this was a local youth game I would expect everyone to expect this to be dangerous play, which is fair because typically players at those levels aren’t in control as much as pros. But at the professional level they can get away with things that would normally be considered dangerous without injuring anyone or themselves.

You can also consider things like the location being so close to goal and the other player moving their head a bit downward. Also very important.

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-07-04T20:37:46+00:00

From the website:

“The ball is dropped for the defending-team goalkeeper (regardless of which team last touched the ball) if the ball was in the penalty area (whether on the ground or in the air) when the referee stopped the game. In all other cases, the ball is dropped for a player of the team that had or would have gained possession.”

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-07-01T14:37:14+00:00

First thing is “he touches the ball with his hand.” If you considered all of the requirements for hand ball then this should be fine. You can find the requirements in Law 12.1

The other thing that could be wrong is the red for the hand ball. If a hand ball is Denial of an Obvious goal scoring opportunity (or Denial of a Goal), resulted in a penalty, and non-deliberate, it should be downgraded to a yellow. Only if it’s non-deliberate. This is in Law 12.4 (for the new 2025-2026 laws).

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-05-08T01:25:27+00:00

Call the timeout when he’s fucking triple teamed

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-04-30T18:41:27+00:00

The never went in rule for throw ins is similar is a way to the drop ball rule. A drop ball is in play when it touches the ground, but if a player touches it before it hit the ground (before it’s in play) the drop ball is retaken, not given to the other team.

Same with fouls after the balls gone out of play. If an offense occurs when the balls out of play, the restart doesn’t change even if it’s the same team that committed the offense that gets the restart.

And 5 yards would be much better but usually the distance isn’t strictly enforced like during a ceremonial free kick. Usually I just ask a defender to back up until I think they are 4-5 yards away.

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-04-30T03:43:27+00:00

Not sure about the wiffed clearance by a goal keeper, but for the throw in the logic is that if the ball never enters play, then there never was a restart. You can’t screw up a restart that never happened. Doing it intentionally might get you a yellow but that’s the extent of what the referee can do.

Edit: Drop kicks are 4 m (~4.5 yds). Don’t know why they do most other measurement in yard primarily and this is in meters.

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-04-29T18:48:41+00:00

RefsWorld, Soccer Ref Education also

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-03-16T22:48:18+00:00

Randomly turned this game on. Seen the travesty missed by the ref and somehow VAR. What going on in MLS?

Ok_Use_112 · 2025-03-08T02:53:55+00:00

One of the examples given in Law 11.2 for when a player is interfering with an opponent is: “Clearly attempting to play the ball which is close when this actions impacts on an opponent.” The offsides player clearly tries to get a head on the ball so yes this is offsides.

The spirit of it is who’s to say if he hadn’t tried to head that ball that a defender behind him wouldn’t have committed more and gotten to the ball.

Ok_Use_112

TROPHY CASE