Question Number: 17188

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/8/2007

RE: Select - FIFA Under 12

Tad D. Krafft of Cincinnati, OH USA asks...

The goalie from the white team came out of the penalty area. His teammate passed him the ball and he dribbled the ball with his feet back into the penalty area and picked up the ball. I was a linesman and raised my flag indicating an illegal touch. The center ref agreed and indicated an indirect kick from the spot of the foul.
The coach of the white team was not pleased and complained enough to get himself thrown out of the game. He said that it was permissable - that pro goalies do this all the time.
Would it make any difference if his teamate had or had not passed him the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I hope by "passed" you meant "deliberately kicked". If the teammate had, for example, headed the ball to the goalkeeper, the keeper is allowed to pick up the ball once he gets it into the penalty area. It would also be allowable if an opponent had played the ball to the keeper.

Good of your center to rid the game of the coach who could not conduct himself in a responsible manner.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Of course it makes a difference how he got the ball!! It's only an offence if the keeper gets the ball directly from a kick or throw by a teammate then handles the ball. You wouldn't have raised your flag if the keeper gathered a ball kicked by an opponent outside the penalty area and dribbled it inside the PA and subsequently handled it would you? Pro keepers most certainly do NOT do this all the time. Once again a coach that does not understand the Laws gets himself thrown out of a game.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Actually professional keepers do not use their hands in any case where there is even the remotest possibility of committing an offence. Again the referee crew comes out correct and the coach gets a little time off so he can do other things.

Regards,