Question Number: 34234

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/26/2021

RE: Grade 7

John McGlinchey of Hattiesburg , MS USA asks...

I watched Arsenal play Chelsea in the English Premier League. A Chelsea player tried a back-pass but almost put the ball in his own goal. The keeper saved it with his hand but the rebound was scored. I realize it would have been an indirect kick on the goal line had the goal not been scored for hand ball on the back-pass, but my question is would it also have been a red card for the keeper for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
Thanks for the question
The purpose of the so called*backpass* when it was introduced is to prevent goalkeepers picking the ball up from deliberate kicks to the goalkeeper which were being done multiple times in games to run down the clock and to not make the ball available for challenge. Teams were able to position defenders close to the goalkeeper who threw the ball to those players who played it back and when the goalkeeper was challenged the ball was picked up which meant it could not be contested for. At the time teams did not want to push players forward to counteract this so it became a disappointing common tactic in games by the team in the lead.

The lawmakers did not want goalkeepers to be sanctioned for doing what they have to do which is use their hands to makes saves including errors on deliberate kicks to them by team mates.

As a result the law sets out that it is an indirect free kick only with no disciplinary sanction so in the Chelsea game the only possible outcome would have been an IDFK from where the goalkeeper touched the ball with his hands or on the six yard line if it happened inside the goal area.

One could not expect a goalkeeper to do nothing in such situations inside their penalty area for fear of a caution or getting sent off hence no card is required. Outside the penalty area the goalkeeper is like any other outfield player and if the 4 DOGSO criteria are met on deliberate handling then it would be a red card.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi John,
a keepers' use of hands-on a deliberately kicked back pass from a teammate, if he was to handle the ball INSIDE his PA, the worst that would happen is an INDFK from the point of contact subject to the special circumstances within the goal area, no card is possible for THAT infraction.

As my colleague, Ref McHugh mentions if the keeper was to do this OUTSIDE the PA then DOGSO and cards are certainly in play as a DFK offense. In the incident, you mentioned the ADVANTAGE clause was in play, and thus no need to worry about an INDFK.

There are possibilities for DOGSO, send-offs, and cards for an INDFK second touch,
IF the keeper themselves created the situation upon their release of the ball into play where they are NOT permitted to use their hands until another player makes contact with the ball. This could be after the 6 seconds or on a goal kick where a poor effort creates a need to touch/play the ball to prevent a goal or stave off an opponent scoring opportunity. This would occur if they kick or use their hands on the ball albeit outside the PA deliberate handling is a DFK not indfk.
Cheers