Question Number: 30952

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/25/2016

RE: School High School

Danielle Engstrom of West Newton, PA United States asks...

If a goalie picks up the ball with their hands, puts it under their shirt and runs down the field what would happen?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Danielle,
lol an interesting if fanciful proposition.
The moment the keeper stepped outside their {PA} I award a DFK to the opposition for deliberate handling. Or I award an INDFK( subject to the special circumstances in the goal area) from where the keeper stuffs it into the jersey as a form of USB misconduct or illegal handling or a 6 second violation. Trust me a referee will NOT permit this to occur. It is likely a caution show a yellow card could accompany such an obtuse act!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Daniel
This is not allowed in either FIFA or NFHS games. There are a number of options available to the referee in FIFA.
1. The referee can determine it to be deliberate handling as any object used to touch the ball with the hand including a shirt is an extension of the hand. Holding the ball cradled in a shirt is also handling.
2. The referee can deem it as unsporting behaviour for acting in a manner that shows a lack of respect for the game. Inside the penalty area it cannot be handling by the goalkeeper so it is an IDFK restart. A generous referee could be ultra strict on the 6 second law and give the IDFK
It is also most likely that the action will result in a caution for unsporting behaviour .

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Daniel,

Although not specifically covered in the unsporting conduct rule, this is not permitted and would be unsporting conduct which is covered by NFHS Rule 12-8-1-1f that gives examples of unsporting conduct but does not limit unsporting conduct to those examples. The goalkeeper is to be cautioned and the opponents would be given an indirect free kick from the spot of the infraction. This is covered in NFHS Rule 13-1-2l (Indirect free kicks are awarded and taken from the point of the infraction if the game is stopped for misconduct of a player and no other restart takes precedence.) I hope that your season is going well and you get to referee state championships in Hershey next month.