The Ref Stop

Location and Number of Defenders for DOGSO

NOVARef

Active Member
The law says to consider the location and number of defenders for DOGSO. What criteria do you use for this to determine DOGSO? Most people talk about "last defender" has to foul the attacker for it to be DOGSO. Here are some hypothetical situations. Any difference in what you would call? Any other situations to think about? So an attacker is in on goal. GK is stepping towards the attacker and the center back fouls the attacker. No other players around. Pretty straight forward DOGSO, right? Say the same thing but GK comes out and fouls the attacker and the center back is in between the GK and the goal at the time of the foul. Does that change the call? What if the two center backs are near the goal box. GK goes to to punt the ball away and drops it and the attacker gets the ball and is in on goal against the two center backs and one of them fouls the attacker. Does that change things? Is the magic number two defenders or less between the attacker and the goal for it to be DOGSO? Thanks.
 
The Ref Stop
In futsal the numbers are specified. In big/real football they are not. Most guidance is to try to take a snapshot of the foul - and remove the offender from the picture. Then, is there a one-on-one or better? Are there covering defenders that can intercept/tackle/block?
 
I think the fact that a defender can not use their arms to save a shot suggests that 2 defenders but no GK may only be equivalent to one GK to be honest, although there is no hard and fast rule. It's entirely dependent on the situation and the referees judgment of the considerations listed in law.
 
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