Question Number: 31082

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/3/2016

RE: Under 17

Thomas Stamp of Accrington lancashire, uk asks...

A goal kick is awarded. the keeper stands outside the 18 yard area.a defender takes the goal kick and passes to the keeper outside the area. the keeper controls the ball with his feet and plays the ball under control into the area and picks it up.has any rule been breached.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Thomas .
This old chestnut gain. YES the LOTG have been breached! Law 12 infringements by the goal keeper The LOTG state a keeper CAN NOT use their hands if they receive a ball directly from a deliberate kick or a throw in off a team mate. The keeper is fine to receive it at his feet outside . Is fine to dribble the ball outside, go inside, go back outside, as often as the opposition permits However, if at ANYTIME he goes BACK inside his PA and chooses to use his hands to pick up the ball, assuming no other player has yet touched the ball but him, the handling restriction was STILL In place BECAUSE the ball was deliberately kicked directly to him by a team mate. KEY point, NO OTHER PLAYER BUT the keeper has made contact with the ball since it was deliberately kicked directly to him by his team mate .
Cheers and Merry Christmas

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Thomas
Yes this is an offence should the goalkeeper pick the ball up after dribbling it back into the penalty area. The ball has been deliberately kicked to him by a team mate. The direction of the kick is irrelevant as is the fact it is also a goal kick restart.
This is why the misnomer of back pass is unhelpful as the ball just has to be deliberately kicked by a team mate. Once it is deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper the restriction of touching the ball with the hand/s applies.
Perhaps if I put it this way. Say a defender at the taking of a free kick 25 yards from goal deliberately kicks the ball to the goalkeeper who is stood outside the penalty area. He then dribbles the ball back into the penalty area where he picks it up. Would there be any doubt that it is an IDFK offence?