Question Number: 30630

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/23/2016

RE: Rec Under 16

Vaughan Robertson of Auckland, New Zealand asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20697

We had an interesting scenario in the weekend - deliberate pass back to the goalie who picked it up. Ref adjudged an indirect free kick... all good, but after the game the goalie (15 years old... an expert!) maintained that he had stopped it with his foot then picked it up. Still wrong according to rule 12 - but I saw a fascinating commentary in my checking...

http://cambridgekeepers.com/laws-of-the-game.html

The comment adds a point from Decision 3 that says 'A goalkeeper is permitted to trap the ball with a part of the body other than the hands or feet and then pick it up any time after unless a teammate touches the ball during this time.'

If this is true, I would interpret it to mean that after a "pass-back" the goalie could drop to his knees and trap or touch the ball, (ie not with feet or hands) then pick it up.

What do you think?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Vaughan
The decision was 100% correct. The young player was wrong in that it makes no difference if another part of the body is used or not before the ball is picked up. Sure if that was the case most if not all goalkeepers would say use a foot or chest like a regular player and then use his hands and do as you describe. That plainly never happens as the restriction continues to apply not matter what way the ball is controlled and GKs who do this generally do it to use up time when the ball is played through by an opponent before picking it up. If it is a team mates deliberate kick to the GK the control and dribble is done to position the ball for the subsequent kick away by the GK.
Now I looked at the website that you provided and it is plainly in error. I have contacted the site and asked that the lines be removed as it is incorrect and unhelpful.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Vaughan,
I'm not sure if that line you quoted is specifically mentioning scenarios when a defender has passed it back with knee, head etc - stating the keeper can trap it then handle it. I suspect that may be the intention, though I agree it can certainly be misinterpreted.

The initial decision was correct. A goalkeeper can receive the ball directly from a deliberate kick by a teammate, run around with it, receive it outside the PA and run into it, even try to clear it and miskick it - if he initially received it directly from a deliberately kick to him from a teammate and no other player has touched it, he cannot handle it.