Question Number: 20502

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/12/2008

RE: Rec Adult

stefan redlarski of Bowmanville, Ontario Canada asks...

A goalkeeper standing outside his penalty area reaches into the area to pick up the ball. Is it a hand ball?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the ball is inside the penalty area, the goalkeeper is allowed to handle it. It doesn't matter where the rest of the keeper's body is.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

'Handball'? What's a 'handball'? Do you mean did the keeper's hands touch the ball? Of course they did. Do you mean to ask 'did the keeper commit the direct kick offense of 'deliberately handling the ball'? No, he did not. All that matters is the location of the ball. If the ball is inside his own penalty ares, the keeper may legally handle it regardless of where his feet or the rest of his body is.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Ah! Location, location, location. It sells real estate and in the world of soccer, the ball's location is what matters for so many things. An inexhaustive list:

touchlines and goal lines - the ball's location says it is in or out of play
penalty area - ball's location says it is in or out (keeper handlable or not)
offenses - depending on type, spotted at the ball's location at time whistle blew
throw-ins - the spot where the ball left the field!

You get the picture - in your scenario, the keeper could be completely inside his own goal, stop the ball on the goal line, and that's perfectly legal, and no goal.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

It's not a hand ball. It's called 'deliberately handling the ball' -- that is the offense.

And if the ball was 100% outside the area, the keeper can't use his hands deliberately to play the ball. If he does the punishment is a direct free kick from the location of the handling.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The location of the keeper is not under scrutiny!
The ball is inside his 18 yard penalty area he may handle the ball UNLESS an INDFK illegal handling restriction was in place. If he withdraws the ball and pulls it back outside the penalty area it is a DFK at 18 yards 10 inches. for the foul of handles a ball deliberately

When the keepers hand come into contact with that ball, it is only the ball location which is determined as either INSIDE the penalty area or OUTSIDE the penalty area.

The keeper could be lying flat out on the ground, feet pointed to the mid field, arms extended over his head, his fingers resting on the outer edge of the ball away from goal while the opposing edge of the ball is breaking into the 5 inch penalty area boundary line wall by overhanging a discernable amount to the eyes of the officials and the keeper has committed NO infraction despite the fact his feet are over 9 feet away from the edge of the penalty area and the keeper himself is COMPLETELY outside the penalty area.

The ball being round and about 1o inches across at its widest point must physically cross into that transparent 5 inch boundary wall extending to the sky by a discernable amount that the official can make the determination yes it is or no it is not

As long as the ball itself is considered for legal purposes to be INSIDE the penalty area the keeper is permitted the use of his hands on the ball. Although many try to argue if the keeper's hands touch a portion of the ball that is partially outside this is a foul they are misinformed and such allegations are red herrings that confuse a very simple understanding.

These same people will not award the PK either if a player does the same only a DFK outside the area. They have yet to buy into if the ball is in contact with the boundary line it is INSIDE that area even if part of the ball is outside the area.
The hands that touch the ball in contact with the boundary line of the penalty area are ok if a keeper's own PA, a PK if a defender and a DFK if an opponent.
Cheers

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

See Question: 20563