Question Number: 16938

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/27/2007

RE: rec Under 16

Sam Haynes of Eastaboga, AL USA asks...

The attacing team kicks the ball and the goalie makes the stop by jumping and landing on the ground. The goalie stands up with the ball in hand and places it on the ground in front of him. As the attacking team approaches, he picks up the ball. Is he then guilty of handling the ball, with the attacking team given an indirect free kick, or is he in his right to pick the ball up again?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This sounds to me as if he had control of the ball then relinquished it. Now, he cannot handle the ball again. However, he did handle it. This is an offence punishable by an IFK for the opponents at the spot of the infraction unless it was inside the goal area in which case it comes out to the six yard line

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Sam,
I concur with my colleague Ref Contarino it appears that the keeper had 100% clear ball possession and for some reason decided to release it back into play prior to the 6 seconds when he could have made his way to the top of the 18 yard penalty area and punted or thrown the ball out to a team mate.
The use of hands on the ball again is a INDFK violation as stated in law 12
"? touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released
from his possession and has not touched any other player

Law 8 "Special Circumstances
"An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team in its opponents? goal area is taken from the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred."
Cheers