Question Number: 2730

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/16/2001

RE: any level

dennis of , asks...

I was under the understanding that if the goalie had control in the box of the ball, picked it up, the ball was not considered out of the box until one of the goalies feet were completely out of the box with his hand or hands still on it. The ball is till considered in the box until one of the goalies feet comes completely out of the box with him holding on to the ball or can the goalie be touching a ball illegally if part or both of his feet are in the box and the ball is over the top or over the side boundry lines of the 18? I have always been told that as long as the keeper is in the penalty area with both feet partially or completely within the boundries of the 18, the ball can be completely out of the box with him holding on to it and it is still in the box if it has not touched the pitch. Which is it. This is in reference to question 1520. Law 12 says the goalie may not touch the ball outside the penalty area but that usually refers to the pitch or coming completely out of the box. The laws of the game insinuate that if the goalie has any part of both of his feet in the penalty box and has ahold of the ball, the ball is where he is, not if it is outside the box. Goalies nightmare, what are your interpretations. Dennis

Answer provided by Referee stewart 11/16/2001

The all important question is the positioning of the BALL. If the ball has completely crossed the boundaries of the penalty area and the goalkeeper is still touching it with his hands, then he is penalised for deliberate handball. The position of his body or feet are irrelevant. Even if both his feet and body are within the penalty area and only his hands are outside, then he is still penalised. If it was the other way round, with his feet and body outside the penalty area but his hands and the ball within the penalty area. Then no foul has been committed and he can walk in and carry on. An example of this may be a goalkeeper rushing out to intercept the ball at high speed. Having gone to ground and caught the ball, his impetus has carried his body outside the area but he manages to keep a hold of the ball at arms length within the penalty area. This type of play is ok and there is no foul committed.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Sebalja 11/18/2001

The ball must be inside the box for the keeper to touch it. Nothing else matters.