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Australia’s Matildas have lost a heart-breaking quarter-final shootout against host nation Brazil, but there was one particular part of the finish that has caused some controversy.
Throughout the entire shootout, the Channel 7 commentators pointed out on multiple occasions the positioning of the Brazilian keeper, Barbara.
She appeared to be jumping off her line and coming forward before the Australian kicked the ball, nearly every time.
The rules of the game state that “The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked.”
The key there being ‘until the ball has been kicked’ – the keeper is allowed to move off the line, but not until contact has been made.
If the keeper indeed comes off her line but the ball goes in then the goal is awarded, but the keeper is given a warning.
If the save is made, then the penalty taker is allowed to retake the shot until the keeper makes a clean stop.
There are linesmen that stand right next to the goal and are in position specifically for this ruling. Their one job here is to watch the line and make sure the keeper is on it. But they failed to do so here.
Linesman in perfect position. #hadonejob #brazilnut pic.twitter.com/XJ0FfRTtMF
— Robert Shaw (@shawry_analyst) August 13, 2016
Barbara was shown, on camera mind you, to have jumped her line early at least three times, including the final save against Alanna Kennedy that won the game for Brazil.
Australia missed a separate shot earlier in the shootout. The cameras were concentrating elsewhere at the time, but if Barabara was doing it so often, who’s to say Australia weren’t robbed again there?
They would likely have won the game, been in the semis and had a chance at a medal.
Kennedy should have been given another chance at goal after the save. The officials are there, they saw it, but didn’t do anything about it.
Was it the pressure of a quarter-final? The heat of an emotional home crowd? Or just the unwillingness to make a big call in a big game moment?
Whatever it was, the Matildas can feel a little hard done by to say the least.