Question Number: 34533

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/19/2022

RE: Pro Adult

Dávid of Budapest, Hungary asks...

The defender passes the ball to his keeper, and it takes a slight deflection on the opposing attacker's leg. Is the keeper allowed to take the ball into his hands or does the prohibition of the back-pass rule still apply?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi David,

If an attacker takes a touch, then the 'deliberate pass to the keeper' is effectively nullified and the goalkeeper can handle the ball without penalty.

The 'backpass' law is intended to prevent timewasting by exploiting the 6-second rule. But if an attacker gets a touch on the ball, then this basically negates that idea.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi David ,
Quick answer is Yes, the keeper can use their hands, there is NO prohibition other than he does so inside his own PA.

In today's game any TOUCH of the ball by an opponent effectively renders a brand-new touch and resets the illegal handling within their own penalty area by the keeper on a deliberately kicked ball or throw in from a team mate.

When this law was first introduced there was some confusion by officials with the wording "deliberate" and how intent factored into reasoning why the back pass occurred. I actually watched a professional match where the referee awarded an INDFK for the exact same thing you asked and how quickly a clarifying counter ruling came down from FIFA & IFAB basically saying NO matter what the intent of the teammate passer or thrower, the opposition touch be it inadvertent or deliberate, takes away the keeper handling restriction.

In days past the powers that controlled the LOTG realized the PAYING fans were often frustrated with teams finding delaying keep away tactics by playing the ball back & forth to the keeper where he was permitted to hold onto the ball and the opposition could not effectively challenge for the ball.

There was opportunity where you could actually challenge the keeper when he had the ball even inside the goal area . I recall it was headed out of a keeper's hands on occasions. The 4 step rule to encourage the keeper to get the ball back into play. Yet there was a safety issue as well as a time use issue so the 6 seconds rule came into fruition with NO opponent being permitted to interfere with the keeper's release. Even that clear mandate has some controversy at times with opponents milling about pretending to not interfere, yet somehow? lol
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
Thanks for the question
The goalkeeper may use his hand/s to play the ball as the touch by the opponent had cancelled the deliberate kick by a team mate.

Law 12 tells us that it is only an offence if the goalkeeper uses his hands when it has been
# deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a team-mate
# receiving it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate
Clearly the touch by an opponent has changed it from a deliberate kick by a team mate to a touch / play by an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi David,
As my colleagues have all pointed out, in this scenario there is no prohibition on the goalkeeper using their hands.

As it happens, this has been a question raised several times in various referring forums and so on one of those occasions because some of the participants would not accept the fact that it was legal for a keeper to handle the ball after a deflection off an opponent, I sent an enquiry to the IFAB to get an official ruling. This was my question and their reply:

"If a player deliberately kicks the ball, intending it for his goalkeeper but the ball is deflected by an opponent on the way, does the prohibition on the keeper touching the ball with the hands, still apply?

Dear Peter,

No it does not as the goalkeeper is not receiving it directly from a team mate."