Question Number: 31466

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/20/2017

RE: Presidio Under 13

Gerhard of La Jolla, CA USA asks...

If the keeper slides to catch a ball close to the line of the penalty box, but is slide takes part of his body - lets say the feet and legs - past the line to the outside of the box, does that count as a 'handball'?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Gerhard
It is the position of the ball that counts not the position if the goalkeeper or his hands. Fir a ball to be outside the penalty area all of the ball has to be over all if the line. Once the ball is inside the penalty area the goal keeper may use his hands to play the ball.
So the extreme of this is that the goalkeeper could have all of his body including his hands outside the penalty area with part of the ball touching the penalty area line and it would not be deemed to be deliberate handling

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Gerhard,
To echo Ref McHugh's comments, all that matters is the position of the ball. The position of the body doesn't matter - nor does the position of the hands on the ball. If a sliver of the ball is still above the Penalty Area line, then it's considered in the PA - and even if the part outside is being handled, because the ball is considered inside the PA then no offence has been committed.

This makes soccer a bit different to some other sports where the ball in the hands but contact with the ground outside means that the ball is outside - in this sport, all that matters is the position of the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Gerhard,
Assuming that the ball is still inside the penalty area (which includes when any part of it is overhanging the line) then there is no handball in the situation you describe.