Question Number: 27651

Law 15 - Throw In 8/9/2013

RE: District

Daniel of Ottawa, On Canada asks...

Regarding Throw-ins:

I understand that it is fundamentally a question of common sense, but I would like to know if anyone has a theoretical justification for not penalizing a player for deliberately handling the ball in the following situation:

A throw-in is taken by a player who has both feet partly on the touch line. The ball enters the field of play (by being partly over the touch line) before the player taking the throw-in releases the ball.

'The ball is in play when it enters the field of play.' (Law 15)

There is no question that the thrower, in the process of delivering the ball, is deliberately handling the ball.

Now, I understand that as a matter of common sense, a referee deems that the ball is not in play after it has both entered the field of play AND been released from the hands of the thrower. But I was wondering if there was a theoretical/technical justification for ignoring the deliberate handling of the ball.

Cheers!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Daniel
If the throw in is incorrectly taken there is no question of a handling offence as the ball has not been put into play properly and therefore not in play as per Law 15. No offence can be committed when the ball is not in play plus advantage cannot be played.
It could only be deliberate handling if the TI was correctly taken and the ball was in play with the thrower touching the ball with his hands after it was released. That is only likely to happen if the thrower follows the ball on to the FOP and touches the ball with a hand.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The philosophy behind Law 15 is that it is a simple way to get the ball back into play quickly. If the framers didn't want the ball touched, they would have called for a kick-in (a lawful alternative in beach soccer).

The technical answer is that the ball is not in play until the ball has been released and that it is not an infringement to handle the ball when it is not in play. (See, e.g., adjusting the ball on a penalty or free kick.)