Question Number: 17080

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/3/2007

RE: High School

meg of signal, tn usa asks...

After making a save can the keeper (while they are in the box) put the ball under their jersey and hold their jersey against their body and then run down the field and score a goal? will you get a yellow or red card for this? Will this be a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

You will have the referee stop the game, show you a yellow card and give a free kick to your opponent from the place you put the ball under your shirt. This action is unsafe and totally against the standard method of play. So just don't do this.

Think about it - if the referee didn't call the foul how could the other team get at the ball? They would have to kick you! Ouch. That is just unsafe.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The keeper may do this, but only twice in the same match. She is going to be cautioned every time it happens and you know what two cautions in the same match gets you, right?

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This will result in a caution and yellow card for unsporting behavior. I suppose if a referee were to get really nasty he could wait until the keeper was just over her penalty area line and stop play. He could then say the jersey was an extension of her hands and she was now deliberately handling the ball and award a direct free kick to the opponents at the top of the penalty area.