Question Number: 15951

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/5/2007

RE: rec Under 11

Alex Belanger of Pierrefonds, Quebec Canada asks...

Is a pass back a penalty kick or a direct free kick

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

First, the term "passback" is not found anywhere in the Laws of the Game nor in any official document. If a teammate of the keeper deliberately kicks the ball to his keeper inside his own penalty area or to an area where the keeper may collect the ball, the keeper is not allowed to handle the ball. If he does, the restart is an indirect free kick from the point of the handling unless it taked place inside the goal area wherein the restart would be from the 6 yard line. No keeper handling violation can every result in a penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Neither. It is an IFK if keeper touches ball with hands at the spot.

Answer provided by Referee Jon Sommer

Passback isn't a term we use or promote because it is misleading. It is deliberately kicks the ball because the ball can be passed forward and the goalkeeper still is not permitted to pick the ball up. It is, however, neither, because we would award an Indirect freekick from the point of the infraction.