01/09/2025
What is DOGSO?
DOGSO occurs when a player commits an offence that denies an opponent a clear opportunity to score a goal, either:
by committing a foul, or
by deliberately handling the ball.
The referee must consider whether the opponent had an obvious chance to score before the foul or handball occurred.
🔹 Criteria for DOGSO (outside the penalty area)
When a defender fouls an attacker outside the penalty area, the referee must assess four main factors (sometimes called the “4 Ds”):
1. Distance to goal – How close was the attacker to the goal? The closer, the stronger the case for DOGSO.
2. Distance to the ball – Could the attacker realistically control or play the ball?
3. Direction of play – Was the attacker moving directly towards the goal, or away/sideways?
4. Number of defenders – Were there other defenders between the attacker and the goal (including the goalkeeper), or was it just the fouled attacker vs the keeper?
If all four strongly point to a clear scoring chance, then it is DOGSO.
🔹 Sanction (Punishment) for DOGSO outside the penalty area
If the defender commits a foul (e.g., holding, tripping, pushing) that denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity outside the penalty area, the referee must:
✅ Show a red card (sending-off).
✅ Award a direct free kick (since the foul was outside the penalty area).
If the DOGSO offence is deliberate handball (stopping the ball from reaching goal or attacker), the same sanction applies:
✅ Red card
✅ Direct free kick (or indirect if the handling offence was technical, but usually direct free kick).
🔹 Example Scenario
A striker breaks free near the halfway line and runs straight towards goal.
Only the goalkeeper is left to beat.
A defender chases and deliberately trips the striker just outside the penalty area.
👉 The referee checks:
Attacker was close to goal ✔️
Ball was under control ✔️
Attacker was heading directly towards goal ✔️
No other defenders except the goalkeeper ✔️
This is DOGSO, so:
Defender