Question Number: 24604

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/21/2011

RE: Intermediate Under 13

Phil Rabichow of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

Suppose the goalkeeper catches a ball in his penalty area & runs to the 18 yd. line to kick to throw the ball in the air & kick it.

What happens if:
1) He steps over the line just before releasing the ball? Would this be a DFK by the other team for handling?
2) What if he steps over, realizes the mistake, & then steps back into the penalty area before kicking?
3) What if he releases the ball from his hands while still inside the penalty area, but steps across the 18 yd. line before actually kicking it?

Thank you in advance & for all the wonderful advice you give in general!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
This question has been asked a number of times recently. First off it is an offence if the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball outside the penalty area and the penalty area line is part of the area.
So let's deal with the easy one. In question 3 the goalkeeper has not touched the ball with his hands outside the penalty area so that cannot be an offence. Play simply continues
In situation 1&3 the referee has to make a judgement if the handling offence indeed happened outside the area on a punt and perhaps it could be viewed as trifling in which case a quiet word with the goalkeeper to watch the penalty area line would be suffice. If it is blatant and the goalkeeper is clearly seen to be outside the penalty area with the ball in his hands then that is an offence and it should be called. However blatant deliberate handling rarely happens on a punt and indeed at speed it is very difficult for the referee or AR to decide if the ball was in fact released inside the area and kicked from beyond the penalty area line. Even if it was carried slightly over the penalty area line has it made a difference to play with perhaps less than a yard gained on a kick? I would believe not hence it is trifling and play should be allowed to continue. As I recounted on other answers I saw an AR call such a deliberate handling offence in a Premier League game for it to be showed with freeze frame replay that in fact the goalkeeper had released the ball well inside the penalty area and he kicked the ball some two yards outside the penalty area which is not an offence.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The answer to #3 is the key.

If any part of the ball is on or over any part of the penalty area line, the keeper IS entitled to touch it. It doesn't matter where the keeper's feet or body are located.

How does that affect the rest of the story?

It is nearly impossible to judge whether or not the ball is released 'just' before every part of the ball is completely over every part of the line when the punt is taken at the line. Any infringement likely is doubtful. Doubtful infringements should be ignored.

Moreover, when the keeper is punting within inches of the penalty area, does it really make any difference to the players? Is there an advantage to the keeper's team -or any disadvantage to the opponents? Typically, the 50/50 ball near the halfway line on a punt will end at the same place. Any infringement likely is trifling. Trifling infringements should be ignored. Simply warning 'Keeper, watch your line' usually is all that is needed by the referee team.

If the referee judges that: (a) the keeper was touching the ball when all of the ball was completely over all of the penalty line; and (b) the infringement is not doubtful or trifling, the foul is the direct free kick foul known as deliberately handling of the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Let's put it this way - unless the referee (and the properly positioned AR) are absolutely 100% certain the ball was in the hands of the keeper OUTSIDE of the penalty area there is nothing to call. Don't go making trouble where there isn't any!

If the referee is out of position to see exactly where the keeper's hands and the ball were at the moment of release then guessing isn't recommended. The same is true of the AR. It destroys the fun and the flow of the game.

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

See Question: 25599