A player kicks a free kick into the opponents’ penalty area. While the ball is in the air, the defending team goalkeeper jumps and attempts to punch the ball but does not touch it. As a result, the goalkeeper bumps into the attacker and knocks them down. What is the correct decision?

Question

Accepted Answer

The referee awards a penalty kick and takes appropriate disciplinary action against the goalkeeper:
* caution (yellow card) – if the offence was reckless or denied the opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
* sending-off (red card) – if the goalkeeper endangered the safety of the attacker