SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP Whose ball is it?

Team A scores a goal, dejected Keeper for team B goes to get the ball out of the net, One or more of the pumped up Team A players race after the ball to hurry up the game or just showboat and the pushing and shoving starts between the Keeper and the team that scored. All the while the center ref is marking in his book the goal, and the AR is running from the touch line back to the midfield. Nobody sees the fists, cleats, shoving and chaos going on in the net.

Question - Has there ever been a rule stating who is responsible for getting the ball back to midfield? I know this doesn't happen often, but this happens more and more when a team is on the comeback and wants to hurry up the game. Sure a card can be given for unsportsmanship conduct, but when refs aren't watching... what's the call?

Well technically, if the refs aren't watching, there is no call ;-).

It's an interesting question though. I don't feel like studying the liver, so I'll do some minor research on it instead!

Okay, so from a brief perusal of the FIFA LoG, there is no specific rule on who takes the ball to midline, only that after a goal is scored the kick-off is taken by the team that was scored on. The wording of it seems to imply that it's the responsibility of the team scored on to get the ball back to midfield. However, if they took too long, a penalty can be called on them for "delay of game."

Seems like the unspoken 'rule' is that the team scored on returns the ball to midfield and the scoring team relies on the referee to make sure it is done in a timely manner.

Also, if there is any pushing and shoving or "showboating" involved, it can be construed as unsportsmanlike conduct, either for unnecessary contact or for excessive celebration. Common practice and expectation is that the scoring team immediately withdraws to their half of the field as soon as the goal is scored. Also, upon going out of play into the goal, the ball is automatically in possession of the team what was scored upon, which makes it their sole responsibility to return it to the center mark and put it back into play.

When the goal is scored the ball is essentially played over the end line by the scoring team. Posession of the ball is for the defending team, as it would be in the event of a throw in or goal kick. So, the team taking the kick has the responsibility to not delay the game. Actually, the player from the scoring team could be deemed to be causing a delay in the restart by attempting to retrieve the ball. There was guidance given to referees some time ago to be mindful of this and attempt to keep the scoring team from attempting to retreive the ball, just because bad things can happen in this type of situation. So while it may be considered an unspoken rule, there are sufficient rules in place to account for the situation.

According to the rules this is not an issue in high school as the clock is to be stopped after goals are scored.