Question Number: 30583

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/7/2016

RE: Adult

Frank Nappi of Valrico, Florida United States asks...

Can a keeper who is outside the penalty area handle a ball that is clearly inside the penalty area or does he have to be in the penalty area also? Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Fran
It is the position of the ball that counts not the position of the player. So as long as any part of the ball is inside the penalty area which includes any part of the penalty area line the ball may be handled by the goalkeeper no matter where the GK is located.
It is based on the principle that all of the ball has to be over all of the line to be outside the area that the line bounds. Same would apply to a ball going out of play.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Frank,
The location of the ball is all that matters. It doesn't even matter where on the ball the handling is.

As an example, the ball could be 95% outside the PA with a sliver of the ball sitting on the line, and the goalkeeper on the ground fully outside the PA. He could reach back and put his hand on the ball (even the portion outside the PA) - as long as he doesn't pull the ball outside the PA, no offence has been committed.