Question Number: 16835

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/22/2007

RE: Under 9

Lopaka Trout of Columbia, MD Howard asks...

I was wondering if I was mistaken or whether there has been a change in rules regarding throw ins made to the goalie. I recall in my playing days being able to take a throw in on the defensive side of the field to my goalie and they being permitted to handle the ball with there hands. More specifically I recall
defending against this situation. Anyways, is the goalie permitted to handle the ball on a throw in from their team.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Check out the current Laws of the Game under Law 12, Fouls and Misconduct, and you'll find that a ball thrown to the keeper by his own side, which the keeper then picks up, will result in an indirect free kick being awarded against the keeper's team from the spot where he picked it up (unless it is inside the goal area, in which case it will be from the closest point at the top of the goal area line). This change in the Laws was part of the effort to keep goalkeepers from wasting time. Before, since a goalkeeper cannot be challenged while holding the ball, if the GK got the ball from a kick from a teammate or from a throw-in, he could just hold it forever. That was considered to be against the spirit of the game, so they changed the Laws to prevent this kind of time wasting by goalkeepers.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Hasn't been a change since July 1997. That change said if the ball is thrown directly to the goalkeeper by a team mate the keeper uses his hands or arms to play the ball his opponents are awarded an indirect free kick.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

As of July 1997, a keeper may not handle a ball directly thrown in to him by a teammate inside his own penalty area. If he does, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opponents.