Question Number: 31418

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/3/2017

RE: Competitive Adult

TD Ward of Portland, Oregon United States asks...

If the goalkeeper's hands are in contact with the ball, AND his/her hands are outside of the penalty area, even though part of the ball remains inside the penalty area, is the goalkeeper handling the ball illegally?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
As described this is not considered deliberate handling. The reason is that is the line form part of the area that they define and once any part of the ball is touching any part of the penalty area line or plane of the line it is deemed to be inside the penalty area and therefore the goalkeeper can use his hands legally.
The challenge for the referee will be at speed and from a distance determining that position of the ball.
I watched a goal being awarded recently in the game between PSV and Feyenoord
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J119chD_Vbo
Could the referee say without technology that all of the gall crossed all of the line?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi TD,
Fortunately we get to keep it simple here - Deliberately Handles the Ball is considered at where the ball is, not where on the ball is was handled (good thing too - that would make it even harder to judge!!). So, if a sliver of the ball is on the line and the keeper is deliberately handling the portion outside, that's fine.

Similarly, if a sliver of the ball is on the line and a defensive player deliberately handles the portion outside, it's a penalty kick.

This is because by a tiny part of the ball being still in the PA (on the line is in), the whole ball is considered inside the PA.