Question Number: 30093

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/8/2016

RE: Rec Under 11

Richard of San Dimas, CA USA asks...

If the Goalie is outside the Goal Line and prevents the ball from going out by handling and preventing the ball from completely moving past the Goal Line should the Goalie be allowed to kick the ball away, or should the opposing team be awarded a corner kick or penalty kick for handling the ball outside the penalty area?

I hope this makes sense.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Richard
If the ball is crossing the goal line inside the penalty area the goalkeeper is entitled to use his hand/s to prevent that happening. If he fails it is either a corner kick or a goal kick depending on who touched the ball last before it fully crossed the line. Typically when a goalkeeper is doing this it is to prevent a corner kick. If he is the last player to touch the ball the restart is a corner kick.
If however the goalkeeper uses his hand/s outside the penalty area on the field of play that is deliberate handling punished by a direct free kick. The goalkeeper outside the penalty area on the field of play is treated the same as any outfield player.
So a goalkeeper can never be guilty of deliberate handling that results in a penalty kick. He can be guilty of an indirect free kick inside the penalty area for handling a deliberate kick or throw in from a team mate and a direct free kick for handling the ball outside the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Richard ,
I am uncertain what you mean so I will explain in more detail than what might be necessary.

GOAL LINE is the the field width END boundary line that JOINS the two corners of the field length Touchlines. The goal itself is set on this 5 inch line with the two 8 ft goal posts and the 8 yard crossbar centered on it. But the goal line has part of itself inside the goal area, part of itself in the penalty area and part of itself in the FOP (field of play)

The 6 yard GOAL AREA area boundary lines are not part of the goal line it is the other-way around though they intersect 6 yds out off either goal post, running 6 yards perpendicular and join each other as a 6 yard parallel line to the goal and ALSO includes the 8 yard goal line in between the posts .

The (PA ) penalty area run 18 yards either direction off each post and ALSO includes the 8 yard goal line in between the posts as well as the complete 6 yard goal area/ The 18 yard penalty area is the legal space to which a keeper is permitted to use his hands on the ball unless he is restricted through a 2nd touch after a release, a team mate deliberate kick or direct throw in.

When a ball goes into touch OVER the Goal Line it will be one of 3 out comes
a goal kick - ball last touched by the opposition before it exited the FOP
a corner kick - ball last touched by the defenders before it exited the FOP
a goal - the ball has completely crossed over the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar

I use the analogy of a wall of water extending straight up into the sky to describe the 5 inch boundary lines that surround and comprise the pitch markings. If ANY portion of that 12 inch round ball is wet that ball is INSIDE the area of the field that line belongs to .

If the keeper is OFF the field of play in BEHIND the goal line, say he has fallen into the netted area of his goal or was chasing a ball to prevent a corner and slide in behind the goal line portion of the penalty area or was completely outside his own 18 yard penalty area inside the FOP. It is the BALL location which determines if he can or can not use his hands , NOT the body position of the keeper.
As long as the ball is wet, it is inside that portion of the field the fact a keeper's body might be NOT be inside his PA does not mean he cannot extend a hand to control and posses that ball EVEN the portion of the ball which might be hanging OUTSIDE the boundary line poking into the FOP or being outside the FOP.

The keeper COULD NEVER handle the ball on the portion of the goal line that extends from the corner of the PA to the corner arc flag that would always be a DFK for DHB .Once a ball has moved off the FOP it is a restart no foul for handling can occur AFTER that fact

If he is careless and bobbles the ball, moves it in the wrong direction off the goal line off the FOP he will be responsible for allowing a goal if the ball manged to completely cross the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts or a corner kick . If he controls the ball and pushes it back into the goal area or the PA he can pick that ball up for his 6 seconds unless it was a parry and release. He can certainly release the ball and kick it .

If the keeper was outside his PA he can reach back inside the goal line portion of the PA with no issues it is when the ball is barely overhanging the PA itself where he hass to be careful. He can in theory be lying flat out on the ground , feet pointing to the mid line arms outstretched with a finger on the ball with that ball 's outer curve just barely wet and he is in legal ball possession despite his feet being 10 feet out into the FOP and his ENTIRE body completely outside his own PA,
Cheers

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