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Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 9:56 am
by PremierLeagueClass
Anyone seen this? What has saved the keeper from a red card there?
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:02 am
by Big Vinny K
Is handling the ball from a back pass a red card offence ?
Not sure it’s even a yellow card is it ?
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:03 am
by Tricky Trevor
The first time he handled the ball was the save on the goal line. Why was the FK taken on the 6yd line? That was what baffled me.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:08 am
by distortiondave
You can't send a keeper off for handling the ball in his own area, and if the free kick was taken on the goal line where would you like the wall to be?
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:09 am
by taio
I don't know how anyone could think it should've been a red card
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:15 am
by Roosterbooster
Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:03 am
The first time he handled the ball was the save on the goal line. Why was the FK taken on the 6yd line? That was what baffled me.
Indirect free kicks to the attacking team for an offence inside the opponents’ goal area (6yd box) are taken from the nearest point on the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:15 am
by NewClaret
taio wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:09 am
I don't know how anyone could think it should've been a red card
I actually thought the keeper could make a save just not gather the ball. Seems mad to me that a keeper is penalised with a FK for saving a goalbound effort whether it was a backpass or not.
You live and learn!
Good job I wasn’t reffing because it’d have been a corner!
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:16 am
by ElectroClaret
Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:03 am
The first time he handled the ball was the save on the goal line. Why was the FK taken on the 6yd line? That was what baffled me.
Happy to be proved wrong on this, but I'm sure I read somewhere that the six yard line is the furthest forward
a free kick can be taken in those circumstances.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:17 am
by wilks_bfc
Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:03 am
The first time he handled the ball was the save on the goal line. Why was the FK taken on the 6yd line? That was what baffled me.
If it happens within the 6 yard box, the free kick is taken from the edge of the 6 yard box
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:19 am
by PremierLeagueClass
taio wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:09 am
I don't know how anyone could think it should've been a red card
Any offence that directly prevents a goal should be a red card. Not sure how anyone could think it shouldn’t be a red card?? No different to a player handling a ball on the line deliberately.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:21 am
by Roosterbooster
PremierLeagueClass wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 9:56 am
Anyone seen this? What has saved the keeper from a red card there?
The laws of the game
Keepers are exempt from the handball/ preventing a goal rule
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:24 am
by Bacchus
Under the laws I'm not sure it is a red card, but I think it's reasonable to question the laws.
The keeper can use his hands, except for outside the area or from a backpass. So under those circumstances the keeper has no privileges over an outfield player.
If a defender accidentally handles the ball it's a handball and sometimes a yellow card. Where there is deliberate foul play (eh a defender diving to stop a ball on the line, or even a keeper doing the same outside the area) it would be deemed a red card offence. So why in this circumstance only a yellow?
Wolves were denied a goal and given a free kick that was almost impossible to score from and Ipswich received no meaningful penalty for deliberate foul play. That cant be the correct outcome, surely.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:25 am
by taio
PremierLeagueClass wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:19 am
Any offence that directly prevents a goal should be a red card. Not sure how anyone could think it shouldn’t be a red card?? No different to a player handling a ball on the line deliberately.
It is different
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:27 am
by PremierLeagueClass
Roosterbooster wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:21 am
The laws of the game
Keepers are exempt from the handball/ preventing a goal rule
I’ll accept that the laws were applied correctly but my god, this incident should prompt a review of those laws.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:27 am
by PremierLeagueClass
taio wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:25 am
It is different
Why?
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:28 am
by taio
See above - Laws of the Game
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:29 am
by PremierLeagueClass
Bacchus wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:24 am
Under the laws I'm not sure it is a red card, but I think it's reasonable to question the laws.
The keeper can use his hands, except for outside the area or from a backpass. So under those circumstances the keeper has no privileges over an outfield player.
If a defender accidentally handles the ball it's a handball and sometimes a yellow card. Where there is deliberate foul play (eh a defender diving to stop a ball on the line, or even a keeper doing the same outside the area) it would be deemed a red card offence. So why in this circumstance only a yellow?
Wolves were denied a goal and given a free kick that was almost impossible to score from and Ipswich received no meaningful penalty for deliberate foul play. That cant be the correct outcome, surely.
Spot on.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:33 am
by dsr
Bacchus wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:24 am
Under the laws I'm not sure it is a red card, but I think it's reasonable to question the laws.
The keeper can use his hands, except for outside the area or from a backpass. So under those circumstances the keeper has no privileges over an outfield player.
If a defender accidentally handles the ball it's a handball and sometimes a yellow card. Where there is deliberate foul play (eh a defender diving to stop a ball on the line, or even a keeper doing the same outside the area) it would be deemed a red card offence. So why in this circumstance only a yellow?
Wolves were denied a goal and given a free kick that was almost impossible to score from and Ipswich received no meaningful penalty for deliberate foul play. That cant be the correct outcome, surely.
Do you think that stopping a back pass from going in the net is such an egregious offence that it deserves to be a red card? The makers of the laws don't, which is why it is exempted.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:35 am
by daveisaclaret
It's silly that a free kick is given for this. The backpass rule is to prevent timewasting, penalising a goalkeeper for stopping a goal is stupid.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:35 am
by PremierLeagueClass
taio wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:28 am
See above - Laws of the Game
Yes I think we’ve established the rules. Are they correct though?
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:36 am
by taio
Why on earth would anyone think it'd be reasonable to send off the keeper
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:36 am
by taio
PremierLeagueClass wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:35 am
Yes I think we’ve established the rules. Are they correct though?
Yes
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:41 am
by PremierLeagueClass
taio wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:36 am
Why on earth would anyone think it'd be reasonable to send off the keeper
See above posts… Come on mate, if you’re going to contribute at least bring something worthwhile to the table

Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:47 am
by taio
PremierLeagueClass wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:41 am
See above posts… Come on mate, if you’re going to contribute at least bring something worthwhile to the table
It's hard to bring anything new to the table when the goalkeeper just did his job
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:58 am
by Les Lawrence
We once had a free kick like that at Bradford City,think Leigh Palin took it,can't remember if he scored
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:02 am
by Big Vinny K
It’s not a red card simply because those are the current rules of the game.
The rule has been in for many years but I cannot remember an incident like this happening and it does make you think whether the rule should be changed to take into account incidents like this.
However, it could open up a bit too much subjectivity as you would not want to penalise a goalkeeper too harshly for just using his hands to pick up back pass. The grey areas could then materialise anywhere between a simple back pass and an incident like yesterday.
Given incidents like yesterday rarely happen I doubt it’s priority for reviewing the rules. There are a lot more rule changes I would bring in before this one that have been ruining the game for a while.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:12 am
by Walton
I thought it was just Coventry fans with mind-bending interpretations of the laws of the game
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:15 am
by Bacchus
dsr wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:33 am
Do you think that stopping a back pass from going in the net is such an egregious offence that it deserves to be a red card? The makers of the laws don't, which is why it is exempted.
But the keeper isn't allowed to use their hands from a back pass any more than an outfield player is. That's the clear inconsistency.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:26 am
by NL Claret
Don’t know about the laws of the game (I’m thinking of becoming a ref) however it was interesting listening to the half time pundits on Aussie TV, Ian Wright it was , plus the commentators, they were saying that Wolves didn’t really get any advantage from the free kick. Ipswich were able to put their entire team on the line and the free kick is a few yards away which inevitably means that the ball would be blocked. One solution offered would be for the free kick to be taken 10 yards from the line.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:34 am
by PremierLeagueClass
The pundits I’ve heard discussing the incident are all saying red, or at least something more severe than the indirect free kick. Certainly and interesting one although it’s clearly edge-case.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:36 am
by ClaretCliff
I remember in the early 70’s when we brought in Tony Waiters who had been out of the game for a few years. It was the first season of the backpass rule but he obviously wasn’t aware of it as he simply picked up the first backpass he received.

Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:40 am
by Socrates
ClaretCliff wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:36 am
I remember in the early 70’s when we brought in Tony Waiters who had been out of the game for a few years. It was the first season of the backpass rule but he obviously wasn’t aware of it as he simply picked up the first backpass he received.
Backpass rule came in for the 1992/93 season.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:51 am
by wilks_bfc
Maybe it should be if the handling of the ball is a direct free kick rather than in-direct.
If it prevents a goal then it’s a penalty. If not then direct free kick from where the offence took place
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:54 am
by taio
wilks_bfc wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:51 am
Maybe it should be if the handling of the ball is a direct free kick rather than in-direct.
If it prevents a goal then it’s a penalty. If not then direct free kick from where the offence took place
A direct free kick in the box is a penalty
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:59 am
by wilks_bfc
taio wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:54 am
A direct free kick in the box is a penalty
Yes I know that
But what I mean is if the back pass is on target and the keeper handles it preventing a goal, then penalty seems more fair on the attacking team than current situation
If it’s off target then, penalising it with a penalty seems harsh as it’s not directly prevented a goal, which seems more fair on the defending team.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 12:18 pm
by Claretnick
Reading Law 12 again! and the ref has followed the law quite correctly, whether the law is correct in this situation is a different matter...
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 12:21 pm
by ClaretCliff
Socrates wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 11:40 am
Backpass rule came in for the 1992/93 season.
That’s my memory playing tricks then. I’m sure Waiters did something unexpected due to a rule change.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:54 pm
by martin_p
Burnley demonstrated how to score on of these in the box free kicks a few years back. Rather than blast it at an advancing wall Paul Cook played the ball out to Glen Little close to the corner of the six yard box and he just slotted it in the gap left by the defenders charging towards Paul Cook.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:56 pm
by Dark Cloud
martin_p wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:54 pm
Burnley demonstrated how to score on of these in the box free kicks a few years back. Rather than blast it at an advancing wall Paul Cook played the ball out to Glen Little close to the corner of the six yard box and he just slotted it in the gap left by the defenders charging towards Paul Cook.
At Coventry of all places!
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:58 pm
by martin_p
Dark Cloud wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:56 pm
At Coventry of all places
It’s the first goal on this video.
https://youtu.be/McJY5Q1TBLY?si=z80OIH4Ciw_bzlwj
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 9:31 pm
by dougcollins
martin_p wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:54 pm
Burnley demonstrated how to score on of these in the box free kicks a few years back. Rather than blast it at an advancing wall Paul Cook played the ball out to Glen Little close to the corner of the six yard box and he just slotted it in the gap left by the defenders charging towards Paul Cook.
I remember it well.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 9:53 pm
by bfcmik
PremierLeagueClass wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:19 am
Any offence that directly prevents a goal should be a red card. Not sure how anyone could think it shouldn’t be a red card?? No different to a player handling a ball on the line deliberately.
The sanction for the goalkeeper gathering the ball with the hands is an INDIRECT free kick. Indirect free-kicks are not the same as a penalty as you cannot score directly from one. So not a penalty, not a red card, possibly a yellow for ungentlemanly conduct, but even that could be seen as being a bit harsh without a previous misconduct.
If the keeper had just knocked the ball away with his hands it would have needed no sanction by the referee as any goalkeeper may touch the ball with their hands within the penalty area.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 9:56 pm
by ElectroClaret
martin_p wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:54 pm
Burnley demonstrated how to score on of these in the box free kicks a few years back. Rather than blast it at an advancing wall Paul Cook played the ball out to Glen Little close to the corner of the six yard box and he just slotted it in the gap left by the defenders charging towards Paul Cook.
I was there that day.
I think at that time they had the rule in force about advancing the ball ten yards for dissent or whatever.
The ref made a balls up by advancing the ball into the box rather than stopping at the edge of the box, which was the rule.
At least that's how I remember it.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 1:31 am
by Commy
Les Lawrence wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:58 am
We once had a free kick like that at Bradford City,think Leigh Palin took it,can't remember if he scored
Had one at Coventry. Passed towards the right of the area and Glen Little blasted it into the roof of the net

. Can't understand why they would try and shoot straight on with all those players on the line.
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 11:16 am
by clarets1978
ClaretCliff wrote: ↑Sun Apr 06, 2025 12:21 pm
That’s my memory playing tricks then. I’m sure Waiters did something unexpected due to a rule change.
I have heard a story about Tony Waiters missing a new law as well. Was it steps taken with the ball or something like that?
Re: Ipswich backpass
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 12:21 pm
by ClaretCliff
clarets1978 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 11:16 am
I have heard a story about Tony Waiters missing a new law as well. Was it steps taken with the ball or something like that?
Thanks - I’m not going completely mad then.
