Question Number: 16200

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/3/2007

RE: Primere Adult

Simon Maltby of Battle Ground, WA Clark asks...

Our keeper was red carded for handling the ball outside of the penalty area. Is this a normal call?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the referees believed that the keeper denied an obvious goal scoring opportunity, then yes. My guess is that this was the referees decision. Most likely there were no defenders closer to goal line than keeper and an attacker had a great chance to score a goal.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If he denied a goal or obvious goal scoring opportunity by doing so, then absolutely.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Once upon a time not so very long ago, a goalkeeper in the World Cup was red carded for this very thing, and if they will do it at that level, we darn sure better do it at every other level of soccer. As my learned colleagues have noted, it was most likely an issue of handling the ball to deny an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Keeper left the referee no choice, I guess. Next time, maybe the keeper should stay safely inside his penalty area - he could pick it up then!

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I know for the last several years the laws of the game have shown a diagram of this exact situation. The picture also deems that the keeper is to be sent off.