Question Number: 32397

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/22/2018

RE: competitive Under 14

Anthony Newhouse of Brentwood, CA United States asks...

The goalkeeper, while catching the ball, goes completely out of the penalty area into the penalty arc area with the ball still in his/her hands. How should the referee restart play?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Anthon,
well technically IF the ball is COMPLETELY carried outside the PA, being grabbed with the hands. The restart is a DFK from just outside the PA where he stepped over the boundary line. The ball would be set a fraction of grass width outside the 5 inch boundary line so no overhang occurs. Chances are this occurs through momentum or perhaps faded lines in bright sunlight. Note this can be trifling or doubtful in a punt out so be very sure of this infraction as it becomes a scoring opportunity from essentially nothing. NO cards should be considered in these cases as it is a mental mistake not a break up of an attacking option!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Anthony,
Assuming the keeper retains the ball in the hands while it is clearly and completely outside the penalty area, play should restart with a direct free kick to the opposition.

Please note that there is (contrary to a popular myth) no requirement to issue a red card to a keeper who handles outside the area. It might be a possibility, but only if the criteria for denying a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) are met. This could also be a yellow card if the referee decides that the offence stops a promising attack. However it is not necessarily required to issue a card of either colour.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Anthony
Outside the penalty area the goalkeeper is treated like any other player. So deliberate handling is punished by a direct free kick at the location the ball was handled.
In addition the referee has to consider the actions of the goalkeeper as to whether the deliberate handling denied an obvious goal scoring opportunity or prevented a promising attack in which case the goalkeeper can be dismissed for denying an obvious goal or goal scoring opportunity or cautioned for a tactical foul.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Anthony,
First off, the Penalty Arc isn't part of the Penalty Area (PA). The Arc is only there to ensure that players are 10 yards from the Penalty Mark at a Penalty Kick. Aside from that, forget the Arc exists. So, if a keeper handles the ball completely outside the PA but inside the arc, it's a Direct Free Kick (DFK) where he handled it.

What's important is the location of the ball. If a sliver of the ball is still above the PA line, it's considered to be in the PA. It doesn't matter if the keeper is handling the part of the ball that's outside the PA - if part of the ball is on the line, the whole ball is considered to be in the PA.

If the keeper caught it inside first and carried it out, there's no card issued for this offence. If the catch first starts outside the PA, then a card may be an option depending on the situation.