Question Number: 26092

Law 5 - The Referee 3/22/2012

RE: Rec, Select, Competitive Other

Scott Bilow of Kennebunk, ME USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26018

Wouldn't this depend on whether there was an attacker nearby who might be able to play the ball? Even if it's a matter of only centimeters it could be the difference between a shot on goal with the GK out of position and a GK punt. I think it's important to be in position to have a good view of the ball crossing into/out of the box.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Well, the impact the offence has on play would certainly be a big factor in determining if an offence is trifling or not. A keeper grabbing a ball that's slightly out of the PA with nobody around has far less impact than if it was done with an attacker bearing down on him, and that should be taken into consideration - but either way, it shouldn't be penalised unless you're absolutely certain the entire ball is outside the PA.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If you're referring to whether the handling is a trifling offense, you are correct. It's not trifling if the keeper illegally handles the ball to keep an opponent from getting it.

If you're referring to whether or not an opponent needs to be nearby for the offence to happen, you would be incorrect. If all of the ball is outside the penalty area boundary line (other than the goal line) and the keeper handles it deliberately, he has committed the direct free kick foul of deliberately handling the ball. Law 5 gives the referee the power to ignore the offense as it is trifling but does not give the referee the power to say there has been no offence.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The position of an opponent is only one factor of several to consider for the referee. The most important factor is the exact position of the ball. If the referee is not absolutely certain that all of the ball was all the way out of the PA, then no call can be made. If the referee is pretty sure but not positive warn the keeper to watch his line.

If the referee is 100% sure the ball was all the way out when caught by the keeper (note here we don't give a flip where the keeper's feet were), then and only then do other factors like proximity or not of opponents enter into the decision as to whether was an offense that needed to be called, or was just a trifling issue at that point in the game.