Question Number: 18639

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/29/2008

RE: Rec Under 14

Jeff Timmons of Milwaukee, WI USA asks...

May the keeper handle the ball in the penalty arc?

My son and I were watching a game on television, and it appeared that the keeper puched the ball out of danger while outside the penalty area but in the arc. He was not called for hand ball nor did the commentators mention it.

Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The keeper may NOT legally handle the ball inside the penalty arc. The penalty arc is NOT part of the penalty area where the keeper is free to handle the ball. Thanks for the question

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

No. He may have done as you say, but he shouldn't have gotten away with it if he did.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Please don't put much credence in what television commentators say because they have demonstrated gross ignorance concerning many things related to The Game. In this case what appeared to you and your son as a handling infraction in a specific location on the park didn't appear that way to the match referee. I say this because the penalty area ends in straight lines not curved ones.

Regards,

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

See Question: 18656