Question Number: 15944

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/4/2007

RE: Competive Under 15

Joel Shaw of Melbourne, Victoria Austraila asks...

At our Match the other team passed the ball back to the keeper while he was under pressure and he picked the ball up and then realised he couldn't pick the ball up and then threw it away. The Ref saw everything but we weren't awarded a penalty.
Are the Keepers allowed to pick the ball up when they are under pressure?

Answer provided by Referee Jon Sommer

You would never be awarded a penalty. If the ball was deliberately kicked to the keeper by a team mate and he then picked up or controlled the ball with his hand, the restart should be an indirect free kick from the point of the infraction.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You don't say where the goalkeeper was when he picked up the ball. If it was outside the penalty area, it would be deliberate handling and the restart would be a direct free kick - not a penalty kick, because it was outside the PA.

My colleague covers the situation inside the PA.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Well, no way you'd be awarded a penalty kick for a keeper handling violation. If the referee felt the ball was deliberately kicked to the keeper inside the keeper's own penalty area and the keeper then deliberately handled the ball, the restart is an indirect free kick. If outside the penalty area, doesn't matter who kicked the ball it's a direct free kick. Perhaps the referee felt the kick by the teammate was not deliberate.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 15976