Question Number: 13001

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 6/10/2006

RE: none Adult

Ashley Martin of Edmond, OK USA asks...

This question comes from an argument which arose while watching the World Cup.

The goal keeper's feet went behind the back line, out-of-bounds. However, he stopped the ball with his hands which were still on the inside of the line, in-bounds. The ball never physically went out although the keepers feet did.

Is this sufficient cause for a penalty/corner kick?

Thank you for your help.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ashley,
The short answer is NO!
ONLY the position of the ball itself determines if that ball is iNSIDE the boundryline or outside the boundrylines. The foot position of the keeper plays no part.

One very important fact a keeper can NEVER be quilty of deliberate handling inside his own PA. NO PK (penalty kick) can EVER be given against a keeper for the foul of deliberate handling, it is an impossibility!

A corner kick is only awarded if the ball, after being last touched by a defender, rolls COMPLETELY over the goalline. Once the ball is over that line it is out of play and no deliberate handling is possible!

Imagine a keeper laying on the ground fully stretched out so his legs are pointing towards the centre circle and his arms are pointing back towards his goal. If the keeper was 6 foot plus with his arms extended he covers over 9 feet of space .

Now place that keeper COMPLETELY outside his PA ( penalty area )so that the tip of his fingers are resting about 6 full inches away from the OUTER edge of the PA boundryline. Now place a ball so that it barely overhangs the outer edge of the boundryline but the ball comes into contact with the fingers of the keeper. THAT ball is legally in posession of the keeper and there is no FOUL of deliberate handling by the keeper because by definition the boundrylines are part of the field they encompass. ERGO the ball in contact with the line or inside that line the keeper has permission to use his hands. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The ball is out of play when:

it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line, whether on the ground or in the air

play has been stopped by the referee.

We judge the position of the ball not where the players are. It's a simple game.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Only matters where the ball is. That said, a keeper inside his own penalty area can NEVER, EVER have a penalty kick awarded against him for any handling infraction. All keeper handling infractions inside his own penalty area result in an INDIRECT free kick, never a penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The position of the ball is all that matters. It does not matter where the keepers feet are.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 14490