Question Number: 29377

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/2/2015

RE: Rec and Competitive Under 13

john cossette of OAKLAND, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25069

Once the goalie leaves his penalty area he is treated as a field player and all regular laws apply, correct? If he handles the ball outside of the area, it is a DIRECT free kick offense, correct? One of the coaches disagreed with my decision in ruling a Direct free kick after goalie caught the ball outside of the area, claiming any time a goalie touches the ball always an Indirect free kick. I don't agree with him. Please clarify, thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
You are correct. The goalkeeper when he Is outside the penalty area us treated like an outfield player. Deliberate handling is punished always by a direct free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi John,
You are spot on my friend!
The illegal use of hands on the ball ...INSIDE... the penalty area are INDFK offences . There are 4 of them . 6 seconds of possession, a retouch after release, a deliberate kick by a teammate and a throw in by the team mate.
OUTSIDE his penalty area the keeper is just a player, subject to the same disciplinary conditions , including DOGSO h . The correct call for deliberate handling is a DFK restart from where the ball was handled. A Keeper can NEVER be guilty of a PK offence for handling, that is probably what the coach was thinking of!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi John,

Not terribly surprised the coach thought this. Over the years I've also seen some referees do very weird things in these scenarios. I once played in a match where the referee awarded a Penalty Kick because the keeper carried the ball outside his PA!!!!

So sometimes it isn't entirely the fault of the individual when they don't understand the laws.

Here's something you can try - read through Law 12 very carefully. This law will state everything that can possibly be applicable here. If it's an Indirect Free Kick offence, which one is it in Law 12?

By approaching the laws in that manner you'll see there's no IFK offence that can possibly apply here, therefore the final remaining option is the penal offence of 'Deliberately Handles the Ball'.

That also means the keeper can be cautioned if it's a deliberate attempt to break up an attack, or sent off if DOGSO applies (though you'll also hear some people argue that a keeper DHB outside the PA is a mandatory red card - also incorrect!)