Question Number: 12663

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/28/2006

RE: NFHS High School rules High School

Steve Davis of Grant, AL USA asks...

Had a polite incident with a coach in a recent game. I was center ref on a boys varsity level game, National Federation of High School rules. During the game I called a deliberate handling foul on the keeper of "Team A" when he came out of the box to clear the ball. He tried to head the ball and wound up controlling it with his arm. He did this while in a group of three other players, one defender and two attackers. In no way did he stop a goal scoring opportunity. I whistled the foul and awarded the kick to "Team B" and they subsequently scored. At the end of the game, Team B's assistant coach (who is foreign born and a competent ref himself) came over to the referee team and stated that whenever a keeper handles the ball outside of the penalty area, such action warrants a red card for the keeper. I have checked FIFA and can find no mention of such a rule. I have not yet been able to consult my NFHS rule book. What light can you gentlemen shed on this subject? Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Deliberate handling is a direct free kick offense. If there is misconduct associated with it then apply the appropriate measure.

Those referees who say always something must happen usually get it all wrong, unless they are talking about mandatory cautions and they don't give those anyway...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Steve,
well we can hopefuly illuminate with a very bright light on this. One thing to KEEP in mind is a KEEPER is but one if the 22 players outside his own area and is treated no differently.

The red card for deliberate handling is ONLY if that handling denies a goal or scoring opportunity. There are certain criteria that we are taught that must be present but the obvious one is WOULD the BALL GO into the goal if the DELIBERATE handling did NOT occur? If so then we could consider it as DOGSO and along with the DFK show the red card and send off the keeper.
As per law 12 Fouls and Misconduct
Sending-Off Offences
A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits the
following offence:
4. denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)


As to a caution and showing a yellow card again the major determnation in the referee's opinion is did that manuver break up attacking play? If so then we could consider it as USB and along with the DFK show the yellow card.

Cautionable Offences
A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits the following offence:
1. is guilty of unsporting behaviour ie... USB is the catch all of unsportsman like gestures

FIFA specifically te tells us this in the
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR REFEREES, ASSISTANT REFEREES AND FOURTH OFFICIALS

Deliberately handling the ball
Referees are reminded that deliberately handling the ball is normally punished only by a direct free kick or penalty kick if the offence occurred inside the penalty area. A caution or dismissal is not normally required.

Preventing a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity
A player is sent off, however, if he prevents a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball. This punishment arises not from the act of the player deliberately handling the ball but from the unacceptable and unfair intervention that prevented a goal being scored.

Cautions for unsporting behaviour by deliberately handling the ball
There are circumstances when, in addition to a free kick being awarded, a player must also be cautioned for unsporting behaviour e.g. when a player:
? deliberately and blatantly handles the ball to prevent an opponent
gaining possession
? attempts to score a goal by deliberately handling the ball Cheers Daylight now? lol Cheers ;o)