Question Number: 33614

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/2/2019

RE: Competitive Adult

Refjak of Malindi, Kenya Kenya asks...

Hi!
1. I felt mixed up by another senior referee who lectured a number of us saying when a player throws anything (eg stick, shinguard, boot) at the playing ball during play it is judged as handball offence. He said it is treated as an extension of the hand, and I felt like 'no' but wanted to research more on the same. I have not seen this in the LOTG unless you redirect me to the clauses where this is found.
I have always known that 'extending the hand' only means using anything to connect the hand to the ball ( handheld item touching the ball- not a thrown object). Or how should it be?
2. In connection to the above, how should I sanction and restart play if a goal keeper in his penalty area:
a) blocks a shot going into the goals using boots held in the hands
b) deflects out a shot going into the goals by hitting the ball with the boots?
And reasons for the sanctions, if any?

Great thanks in advance!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Your senior referee colleague is not up to date.
Previously a thrown object or object held in the hand was treated as deliberate handling yet that had the problem of not carding a goalkeeper for handling inside the penalty area for this unfair act unlike say handling a deliberate kick from a team mate.
IFAB has now put that situation right by introducing a separate offence which is quoted by Referee Dawson. So a goalkeeper is treated the same as any player if he commits this offence which is now a penalty kick if it happens inside the penalty area and if it denied an obvious goal scoring situation the goalkeeper is sent off. If he used his hands only inside the penalty area there is no possible card.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Refjack,
the LOTG USED to give a keeper an out for such stupidity by stating it was an extension of the hands and as he was ALLOWED to use his hands inside the PA we could only caution the misconduct and award an INDFK. NOT anymore These are send off actions punishable by a DFK thus PK for unfairly denying an OGSO.
Cheers

IFAB/FIFA LOTG quote

A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits the following offence:

throws an object at the ball, an opponent or a match official, or makes contact with the ball with a held object

If a player who is on or off the field of play throws or kicks an object (other than the match ball) at an opposing player, or throws or kicks an object (including a ball) at an opposing substitute, substituted or sent-off player, team official, or a match official or the match ball, play is restarted with a direct free kick from the position where the object struck or would have struck the person or the ball. If this position is off the field of play, the free kick is taken on the nearest point on the boundary line; a penalty kick is awarded if this is within the offender’s penalty area.