Question Number: 16335

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/16/2007

RE: Amateur club level Under 13

Terry Allen of Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia asks...

re: Goalkeepers committing handball.

A goalkeeper is racing to get a loose ball before it goes out of his penalty box. He grabs the ball just in time but his momentum carries him over the line (ie outside the 18yrd box).

However, being a clever goaly, he holds the ball in a position where it can be seen as still clearly within the 18 yrd box. His feet may have stepped over the line, but the ball always remained inside the box.

Is this still handball?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Despite Law 12 being worded somewhat ambiguously ("except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area"), what matters is not the position of the player but the position of the ball. If the ball is inside the penalty area, even by the slightest portion of the ball obscuring the slightest portion of the line, then the goalkeeper is free to handle the ball. She just has to be sure that when she next moves that she keeps the ball inside the PA.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No! You should know that it is always the position of the ball that matters and not the feet or the legs. Since the ball has not left the penalty area, there is not foul.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Law 12 means that the keeper can NEVER be guilty of deliberately handling the ball if the ball is within his own penalty area. It's all about the position of the ball, not the keeper.