Question Number: 15965

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/7/2007

RE: Rec Under 9

Russ of Windsor, ON CA asks...

If a goalie is holding the ball and he and the ball leave the penalty area completely, must an DFK be given, or can an IDFK be given.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Russ,
if a keeper is holding the ball in his hands and he carries the ball completely outside his penalty area it is a DFK for deliberate handling IF the call is made at all. It offers up a scoring opportunity over a minor indiscretion. We could warn a keeper to be careful as we often see a keeper release as in a punt out as trivial or doubtful in the need to call it but usually only if flagrant or ongoing is there a need to think it must be called.

I want to differentiate between the keeper mistakenly close to a boundary in a punt out and reaching outside his area in handling the ball. Although both are deliberate handling offences the carry out release has far less impact then a defensive foul to stop a scoring attack.

If a keeper is deliberate handling the ball outside his penalty area the deliberate handling is always and only a DFK foul. If a keeper was guilty of illegal handing inside his own penalty area it can only be an INDFK but NEVER a PK!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Nope must be a dfk. This is the same as any other handling the ball deliberatly. Keeper is only entitled this in his own penatly area.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Russ. If the keeper handles the ball deliberately outside his penalty area the only possible restart would be a direct free kick if the referee stops play for this. However, most referees will allow the keeper to go a little over the line as it's a trifling offense especially at the younger age and skill levels.