Question Number: 15916

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/30/2007

RE: Youth High School

Pochi of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

I was wondering when a defending team throws the ball back to their goal keeper, would be an offence? It would be legal if an opponent threw the ball to their oppenents keeper wouldn' it?...

Also, the law says that a goal cannot be scored directly from a throw in, but would it be different if a defending team accidently threw the ball back to their keeper, and went in the goal?
Only because i'v seen such case on a random soccer game on TV...

Any help would be great,
Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

There is no offence on a throw in for a team mate to go directly to a team's own keeper.

The only restriction is the keeper CAN NOT use his hands. If he uses his hands to pick up the ball inside his own penalty area it is an INDFK offence.

If the throw in is directly to the opposing keeper that keeper is under NO restrictions and could use his hands as the keeper.

If the ball enters the goal DIRECTLY by way of the throw in meaning the ball does not touch any other player on its way into the goal!

If a player was to throw the ball directly into his own goal it is a corner kick for the opponents.

If you throw the ball directly into the opponent's goal it is a goal kick for opponents .
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

It only is an issue if the keeper touches it with hands after it has been thrown to him. The keeper can still play the ball like a normal player. If the defending team throws it into their own goal w/o a touch, the restart is now a corner kick. If the ball touched the keeper in anyway on the way into the goal...then it is a goal.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It's NOT an offence to throw the ball to one's own keeper. the offence is if the keeper then deliberately handles the ball. If he does this, an indirect free kick is awarded the opponents. A goal may not be scored directly from a throw-in regardless of which goal it's thrown into. Must first touch another player

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It's NOT an offence to throw the ball to one's own keeper. the offence is if the keeper then deliberately handles the ball. If he does this, an indirect free kick is awarded the opponents. A goal may not be scored directly from a throw-in regardless of which goal it's thrown into. Must first touch another player