Question Number: 30495

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/8/2016

RE: select Under 14

jeff of long valley, nj usa asks...

a player picks a ball up with his hands believing it to be out another player contests it was still in play. Assistant ref was not on the goal line and was not sure if it was in or out. Center ref gives no indication that play has stopped either. is it a hand ball?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jeff
The decision hinges on whether the ball was in or out if play. It is deliberate handling if the ball was still in play and the player picked it up. If it is out if play the restart is either a goal kick or a corner kick depending on who touched it last.
Have a look at this video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Oncw43A5qVk
As the ball had not crossed over the goal line it was deliberate handling by Red and a penalty kick. Had the ball crossed the goal line it would have been a goal kick.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Somebody's going to decide whether the ball was in or out - guess who that will be? That's right, the ref. Hopefully with help from the AR, but if not, then the decision falls to him. That's why he gets the big bucks, right?

If the ref thought it was in, then he should call the foul. Else call the goal kick or corner kick, depending on who touched it last.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Jeff,

Whether the referee has previously indicated that play has stopped is irrelevant. By that I mean, if the referee hasn't signalled for a throw in but the ball had already gone out, it's still a throw in.

The refereeing team need to make a decision - and if they didn't believe that the ball was out, then that decision should be a free kick (or a penalty kick). I've had to award plenty of free kicks against players who have deliberately handled the ball thinking it was out. Even awarded a penalty kick once in a semi final for players around the same age.