Question Number: 32098

Other 12/13/2017

RE: Select Under 18

Tony of Whitehorse, Yukon Canada asks...

Futsal!!!

A goalie may only have possession for 4 seconds in his own half and may only play the ball once until it touches an opposing player. However, if he is in the attacking zone or the opposing zone he can play as a normal player.

If while in possession of the ball in the attacking zone, he then enters his own zone, does this constitute a second touch or can he play it for 4 seconds before he is penalized?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tony
The Futsal law states
* after playing the ball, he touches it again in his own half of the pitch after it has been deliberately played to him by a team-mate without an opponent playing or touching it*
So the restriction of touching the ball only applies in his own half and the goalkeeper can play the ball as many times as he wishes in the opponents half. If he drops back into his own half then he cannot touch the ball for a second time even if he brings it over himself
The only way that he can touch the ball in his own half for a second time is if the opponents get a touch / play on the ball to remove the 2nd touch violation in his own half.