Question Number: 33840

High School 1/16/2020

RE: competitive High School

Cheryl of San Clemente, California USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 8924

In CIF, High school soccer, If a goal keeper touches the ball outside the box, is the keeper given a yellow card automatically?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Cheryl,
Firstly, it is not an offence for a goalkeeper to simply touch the ball outside the penalty area, so long as they use a body part other than the hand or arm. It might be an offence if they touch it with the hand or arm, but only if the touch was deliberate. Assuming that there is a deliberate handling offence by a player, whether it be a goalkeeper or an outfield player, the standard punishment is simply a direct free kick to the opposition. It would only be if the handling were a ''deliberate handball to stop an attack'' that the goalkeeper would need to be cautioned. As ref McHugh points out, there is also the possibility of a red card if the referee judges that there is an offence denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

However to sum up, no it is not an automatic caution if a goalkeeper touches the ball outside the penalty area, since there are several other possibilities whereby a caution would not be the result.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Cheryl
One of the listed cautions in Rule 12 is deliberately handling the ball to stop an attack.
So there is every chance that a goalkeeper by handling outside the penalty area has done exactly that if not the more serious offence of denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity which is a red card.
There will be times when a caution may not be required such as inadvertently carrying the ball outside the penalty area on a punt or the example cited by Referee Dawson of sliding outside the line and failing to release the ball soon enough.
So it is not automatic yet many times it will be when it has an unsporting impact on the game. I would also say that less experienced official will lean more towards the yellow card in most situations than the astute referee who will only look for the deliberate unsporting context.
The advice I would give to any goalkeeper is do not ask the question by doing it as you may not like the answer.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Cheryl,
It might not be automatic but it is VERY likely the keeper is cautioned & shown the yellow card for USB or red carded for DOGSO when handling the ball deliberately outside the PA. Although I have seen exceptions such as where bright sunlight and faded lines a keeper caught the ball just outside the PA with no opponent near by. Or on a slippery day, the keeper slides outside the PA while holding on to the ball. The DFK and loss of possession was sufficient no need to card. There was no attempt to be unsporting it was just a careless foul.
Cheers