Question Number: 15632

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/28/2007

RE: select High School

dan gabrilska of oshkosh, wi usa asks...

Can a goalie with both feet inside the 18 yd box reach outside the box with their hands to pick up a loose ball then bring the ball back into the box. The ball was not played back to them. Our goalie was called for a hand ball infraction.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The referee made the correct decision. By reaching outside the penalty area and deliberatly handling the ball, your goalkeeper committed one of the 10 direct free kick offenses.

As it is said above foot position plays no role in this decision. This is not basketball or American football.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Dan,
FEET location play no part!
Where was the ball when the hands made deliberate contact?
If the keeper reached outside his PA to deliberately handle the ball and that ball was not overlapping or in contact with the boundry lines it is a DFK penal foul from that point and possibly cautionable or even DOGSO send offable.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

It all matters where the ball is. If any part of the ball is in penalty area, then yes., If that ball is NOT inside of the penalty area, then the answer is no. Usually a good rule of thumb is...The ball and NOT the feet is what always matters in soccer (unless its a throw in).