Question Number: 17055

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/2/2007

RE: Youth Travel Under 13

Tom of Red Lion, PA York asks...

A defender passes the ball back to the keeper standing on his/her goal line and the keeper stops the ball from going in the goal with their hands. Is this a PK for dening a goal or an inderict free kick for the attacking team on the goal area (six)?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It could never be a penalty kick if the keeper uses his hands. And it is not denying a goal by handling, since the keeper can always use his hands inside his own penalty area. The worst that can happen is an indirect free kick to the other team at the top of the goal area line closest to where the GK was standing because the goalkeeper violated Law 12 by picking up a ball with his hands that had been deliberately kicked to him by a teammate.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

No No, never, never, Never, NEVER! There is nothing a goalkeeper can do handling the ball that will result in a penalty kick. Nor can she be sent off for Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity by handling the ball inside the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Did we say no penalty kick for this? Indirect only. No penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Tom. Please don't tell me that you as a referee can think that ANY handling violation by the keeper can EVER result in a PK. NO! NADA! NYET!!! ALL keeper handling violations inside his penalty area result in IFKs. ALL handling violations by ANYONE outside the penalty area result in DFKs. Besides, if the ball was inadvertantly shot at the players own goal, how is this even worthy of being an infraction?