Question Number: 12372

Law 18 - Common Sense 3/16/2006

Armando of Wayne, NJ US asks...

FIFA Rules on Goalkeeper getting possession of the ball.

A keeper gets possesion of the ball inside the 18 but one of his feet lands outside the 18. The ball is held in his hands and he keeps hands inside the 18 so the ball does not cross the plane....is this still handling the ball outside of the box and considered a direct free kick to the opponent?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Armando ,
ONLY the location of the BALL has ANY bearing on whether a keeper could be guilty of deliberately handling the ball. The Boundary lines are 5 inches wide and extend skyward forever. The ball is about 12 to 14 inches across from outer curve to outer curve. My take , if the ball is in contact with that 5 inch line in the air or on the ground that ball in law is considered INSIDE the penalty area and irrespective of where the keeper is standing, the ball may be handled by the keeper. Keep in mind a PORTION of the ball COULD be extending into the FOP outside the Penalty Area boundary but still in contact with the line itself. In such a case it is possible for the keeper to be completely outside the PA even with his hands on the portion of the ball that more outside into the FOP than the portion of the ball in contact with the boundary line and it is NOT a DFK foul as by out law interpretation the ball is inside the PA area as these lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries. .
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I'll ask you this: how if the ball and the hands are both INSIDE the penalty area, could there be any infraction OUTSIDE the penalty area? When considering location, only where the ball is counts.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

The penalty area line is a part of the penalty area. The whole of the ball must be outside that area in order for there to be a handling infraction as you have described. That the keeper was out of the area is irrelevant. Where was the ball?