Question Number: 32096

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/13/2017

RE: Adult

Alan of Lincoln, England United Kingdom asks...

Goalkeeper is holding the ball, if his feet are outside the box but ball is held inside the box is it handball. Likewise, his feet are inside but ball is outside is this handball.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alan
It is the position of the ball that matters not the position of the goalkeeper. The line is also part of the penalty area so all of the ball has to be over all of the line to be outside the penalty area. If the ball is outside the penalty area the goalkeeper may not touch it with his hands.
Here is a video I like to show just how difficult it is to determine ball position relative to a line when the goalkeepers hands are used
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWDMOFxEQuk
Can one say for certain the position of the ball relative to the line and the goalkeepers hands close to the line. Whatever about a static ball, on the ground, on the line these calls can be extremely difficult to make.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Alan,
a is ok b is not ok!
the handling is DEFINDED by the ball location relative to the PA boundary line. Consider the PA boundary line as a 5 inch wall of water extending into the sky, if the ball is the least bit wet on an outer curve, the ball is legal for the keeper to place his hands on the dry portions even if he and part of the ball are completely outside the PA. The line is 5 inches wide the ball about 10 inches wide so what can LOOK funny can STILL be legal!
Cheers