Question Number: 24447

League Specific 12/30/2010

RE: Rec Under 13

Barry McErlean of Brisbane, Qld Australia asks...

Futsal question regarding goal keepers handling the ball 'outside the penalty area'. We often see goal keepers accidentally stepping over the line with one foot as they go to throw a goal clearance. Is it the case that the whole of the foot needs to be passed the outside edge of the penalty line? If so, what is the correct referee action? Indirect free kick from the spot of the infringement? I can't find anything specific in the FIFA rules. Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
Many confuse local indoor rules with Futsal rules. There is no restriction on the goalkeeper leaving the goal area except that after playing the ball, he is not allowed to touch it again in his own half of the pitch without an opponent playing or touching it. That is an IDFK offence in Futsal.
As regards releasing the ball into play with a throw from his own penalty area it is the position of the ball and hand that matters not the position of the goalkeeper's foot. The line is also part of the penalty area so all of the ball must be outside the line and the goalkeeper must touch it with his hand outside the penalty area line before it is an offence. It is easy to have a foot outside the penalty area and the ball in hand inside the penalty area which is not an offence. At speed it is difficult to judge whether the throwing hand is outside the penalty area on a throw and IMO unless it is absolutely blatant it should be viewed as trifling. Most if not all times the ball will be released level with the chest on a GK throw.
If it is called it is a direct free kick from where the offence took place.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The reason there appears to be nothing specific in the Futsal Laws Of The Game is that it simply falls under the foul of 'deliberately handles the ball'.

As such, like in outdoor, the position of the keeper's body is irrelevant; all that matters is the position of the ball.

About a month ago I refereed a Futsal match where the goalkeeper had found himself out of his penalty area and on the floor, and an opposition player n had taken the ball. He had the ball at his feet, with the ball sitting on the edge of the penalty area. The keeper, knowing how desperate the situation was, scrambled towards the ball and was able to grab it. At this time the ball was on the edge of the penalty area line, and his entire body was on the ground outside.

Because of the position of the ball, this was perfectly fine - despite the appeals of the opposition.

In regards to the keeper handling it inside the area and carrying it out, this still comes under 'deliberately handles the ball', and as such is a direct free kick from where the offence ocurred - immediately outside of the penalty area. As in Futsal the ball is typically thrown by the keeper and not punted, like in outdoor, sometimes a keeper may have both his feet on the line of the penalty area, but as he reaches outside to release the ball can be guilty of carrying the ball over the line. With the curved penalty area in Futsal it can be difficult to tell clearly if the ball has been carried outside the area, so the referee would need to be absolutely certain, and for a slight breach the referee may ignore it or warn the keeper.

If, however, your centre applies its own 'indoor soccer' rules rather than the official FIFA Futsal laws, then that's a different case altogether.