A corner kick, especially at the professional level, can often turn into a rugby-style melee in front of the goal, including illegal attempts to prevent the goalkeeper from making a save. A section in Law 12 of soccer's Laws of the Game on fouls and misconduct notes, "it is an offense to restrict the movement of the goalkeeper by unfairly impeding him, e.g., at the taking of a corner kick." If you've ever been in goal during a corner and been jostled, bumped, held or screened by opponents, you may want a clarification of how referees interpret this situation.
Situations
Problems for you in goal occur when you are more than simply touched. "In general there is no problem with touching or contact between players because that is inevitable during a soccer game," says international soccer rules expert and referee Stanley Lover. What does create a problem is when you are held or obstructed by players getting between you and the ball. In extreme cases, an opponent may hook an arm around your waist or shoulder, or grab your jersey.
Rules
Players are allowed to take a position on the field and while they may be in the way of an opponent, they must not actually move into the way of an opponent. Doing so may result in an indirect free kick being awarded to the other team. If you are held by an opponent while you are in goal, the referee is to warn the player committing the hold before the corner is taken, caution the player if the holding continues and award a direct free kick or penalty kick if the holding happens once the ball is in play. Law 12 defines holding as using the hands, arms or body to prevent movement.
Considerations
An addendum to the Laws of the Game on interpreting Law 12 reminds referees to intervene early and deal firmly with holding, especially during corner kicks. Holding is considered unsporting as it prevents the goalie from gaining possession of the ball or taking an advantageous position. Referees are more likely to see such offenses in the men's game, Lover notes. "I enjoy watching women's and girls soccer because fair play is better respected. I hope that will continue and not become polluted by what goes on in the macho male game," he says.
Expert Insight
Prevention and early intervention is the best course for referees to take when dealing with players who impede or hold the goalkeeper during corner kicks, to avoid the risk of provocation escalating into retaliation by the goalie. Lover strongly suggests that referee "apply strictly the advice on preventative action before the kick." The authors of "The Complete Soccer Goalkeeper" also recommend that a teammate be enlisted to protect you from a distracting or fouling opponent by standing outside rather than goalside of the opponent so he can be sandwiched defensively and thus be unable to receive the ball.
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