Question Number: 15154

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/10/2007

RE: High School

Terri Fitch of Omaha, NE USA asks...

If the ball is played back to the keeper from a team mates foot, and the keeper picks it up deep inside the 18, would that be considered a hand ball and a penalty kick awarded?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Terri. Let's keep it simple. A penalty kick can NEVER be awarded for any keeper handling violation. NEVER, EVER. Why? Because inside his own penalty area, all keeper handling violations are punished by Indirect free kicks. Outside the penalty area, the keeper is like any other player and if he deliberately handles the ball a Direct free kick will be awarded, But, never a penalty kick as penalty kicks are for violations INSIDE the penalty area. Thanks for question.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No. It would be an IFK if the kick was a deliberate pass to the keeper. It is not handling, but one of the IFK offenses.

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

I love Ref Contarino's admonition - keep it simple. Use this as a guiding principle in soccer officiating. All too many make it all too complicated with then leads to unbelievable problems. Inside the PA the keeper can NOT be guilty of handling the ball, as stated above. Also, as noted, inside the PA if the keeper is guilty of some type of violation involving their hands then it is an IFK - ALWAYS. It is only when the keeper leaves the PA that they become like any other player and handling the ball then becomes a DFK infraction but since this is now outside the PA it cannot be a PK. Keep it simple. I love that phrase. All the best,