Question Number: 17048

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/2/2007

RE: Professional

Cole Frank of rhame, North Dakota United States asks...

If i hand ball occurs and the person guilty of the infringement foot is on the penalty area line but the actual infringement is outside the penalty area is it a penalty? I cant find the answer really in law 14 or 13.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Where did he handle the ball? Not with his foot, clearly. It had to be with his hands, and that's where both the ball and the infraction occurred, which in the scenario you gave us was outside the penalty area. Direct free kick restart. Possible caution for unsporting behavior depending on the circumstances and your referee's opinion that day.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The reason you had difficulty finding the answer to this one in Law 13 and 14 is that it doesn't appear there, it is in Law 12. Look at the bottom of the Direct Free Kick paragraph and you'll find this: A direct free kick is taken from where the infringement occurred.* [see page 3]

Here the hand made contact with the ball where? So the actual infringement is located where?

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

All handling violations occur where the BALL is. If a player deliberately handles the ball outside of the penalty area, the restart is ALWAYS a direct free kick.