Question Number: 31388

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/25/2017

RE: Rec Under 13

Trent Futrell of Knoxville, tn usa asks...

Question concerning the keeper controlling the ball. Keeper was outside of the box and intercepted the ball from the other team and controlled ball with his feet. He dribbled the ball back into penalty box area and then picked the ball up. I called an indirect kick for the other team at the spot the keeper picked it up. I was told after the game that I was incorrect, that the keeper can control the ball at any time with their body and then pick it up in the box (as long as they haven't already picked it up on that possession). Can someone let me know? Thanks, always learning the game.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Trent,
Sorry my friend you were incorrect! Good for you, we are all always learning, so it is good to set the record straight when we can, so others can benefit from the experience.

Ok from here on in you will know NOT to award an INDFK for a keeper re-entering his PA and using his hands to pick up a ball that was intercepted off the opposition.

What you WILL have to remember is if that ball was initially received off a deliberate kick or throw in from a teammate then you WOULD award an INDFK for the illegal use of hands!

You see the keeper handling restriction INSIDE his own penalty area is only based on the teammates deliberately kicking the ball to him or a direct throw in .

There is NOTHING in the LOTG that state where that interception point occurs inside or outside the PA. We know outside the PA a keeper deliberate handling is a DFK and due to the keeper's right to use his hands on a ball inside his PA the ONLY restart possible is that INDFK if there is a handling restriction in place. Aside from receiving the ball from a direct throw or deliberate kick off a team mate, the keeper has 6 seconds to let it back into play after using the hands and once he releases it back into play he can not touch the ball with his hands again until any other player has done so!.

The keeper is ALWAYS free to dribble any ball he receives in or out of the PA from anyone, his own team included for as long as the opposition permits it to go unchallenged.
Once the opposition do get a touch on the ball, even if accidently, THEN the keeper is under NO restriction inside his own PA where he can 100% go ahead and pick the ball up.
Just remember although the keeper can dribble a ball in or out of his PA ONCE the handling restriction occurs via HOW the ball gets to him until an opponent touches that ball or it goes out of play that restriction REMAINS!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Trent
Many years ago the law makers IFAB wanted to prevent goalkeepers from withholding the ball from challenge when it had been deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a team mate. It had become a problem in the game with teams constantly kicking the ball to its goalkeeper who when challenged by an opponent would simply pick the ball up. To prevent that the so called misnomer offence of the *backpass* was created which has an IDFK restart. In addition when the GK has the ball in his possession he must release it reasonably quickly from his hands and he must not touch the ball up again with his hands until it has been touched by an opponent or in a way by a team mate that allows him to do that such as a header, chest etc. All other times the GK can go about his legitimate task of using his hands.
So in your situation the GK received the ball from an opponent so he is entitled to pick it up even after dribbling the ball for a period either inside or outside the penalty area. So there was no offence here and play should have continued.
Anyway you made the incorrect decision and well done for checking it up and putting it right for the next time.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Trent,
While in this instance there was no restriction on the goalie using his hands on the ball and so your decision was incorrect, it is not true that 'the keeper can control the ball at any time with their body and then pick it up in the box (as long as they haven't already picked it up on that possession).'

The decisive factor that the referee must consider here is how the ball ended up with the keeper.

If the ball comes to them from an opponent (as in this instance) they can receive it outside the area, dribble it back in and pick it up. However if it comes from either a throw-in by a team mate or a deliberate kick directed to the keeper by a team mate then they are not permitted to touch the ball with the hands inside the area even if they initially controlled the ball without using the hands outside the area.

Lastly, if the ball comes to them from an inadvertent touch by a team mate's foot or a part of a team mate's body other than the foot, there are once again, no restrictions on using the hands once the ball is back inside the area.