Question Number: 31276

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/19/2017

RE: Rec Adult

Seb of Farnborough, Hampshire United Kingdom asks...

Can a penalty be awarded if the ball is safe in goalkeepers hands but a defending player fouls an attacking player in the penalty box. Foul takes place 2 seconds after the keeper got the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Fouls can be called any time the ball is in play. When the goalkeeper is holding the ball, it's still in play. Granted, only the keeper can play it until it is released, but it is still in play.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Seb
Thanks for the question.
The answer is YES. Does it happen very often and the answer is no because there is no need for this to happen.
I once had a goalkeeper who had saved the ball run at an attacker and charged deliberately into an attacker having gone out of his way to do so. I awarded the penalty kick and I cautioned the GK for unsporting behaviour.
In your instance there could be a situation of *afters* where a defender who is miffed about something decides to kick, trip an opponent inside the penalty area after the ball is safely in the goalkeepers hands. That is a foul and certainly a caution if not a sending off for violent conduct.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Seb,
The Laws of the Game state:

''Direct and indirect free kicks and penalty kicks can only be awarded for offences and infringements committed when the ball is in play.''

So yes, a penalty can be awarded in the scenario you describe, since the ball was in play.