Question Number: 23709

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/27/2010

RE: Competitive Under 13

G. Hewitt of Waterdown, Ontario Canada asks...

When a goalie, posessing the ball in hand begins his steps to kick the ball from his hands, but steps over the 18 yard penalty area (with ball still in hands) is it an indirect or direct free kick for handling the ball outside the penalty area?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It is a handling foul only if the whole ball is outside the penalty area while still in contact with the goalkeeper's hands. It doesn't matter where the keeper's feet are, or where she might make contact with the ball on a punt or drop kick.

As the foul is deliberately handling the ball, it is a direct free kick. The location will be where the infraction (first) took place, just outside the line.

That said, handling the ball a short distance outside the penalty area is trifling, and the offense need not be called. A warning - 'Keeper, watch the line' - is all that is needed.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The correct decision is a direct free kick for deliberate handling. However the referee needs to be absolutely certain that the ball and the goalkeeper's hands are clearly outside the penalty area before calling the infraction.
In all my years refereeing I have called this infraction once when an U12 GK had taken two clear steps with the ball in hand outside the penalty area and there was no doubt about the decision. I explained to the young GK that he had to pay close attention to the penalty area line when kicking the ball out of his hands.
The vast majority of other times it is soo tight a call that it should not be given. I recall in an English premier League game involving Arsenal where the AR flagged for this very infraction. With freeze frame it was shown that the AR was totally incorrect and that the GK had released the ball well inside the PA and he had kicked the ball some yard and a half outside the PA. Luckily the DFK was not scored as there would indeed have been a very unhappy situation.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Most of the time, this should not be called as a foul. Any infringement is doubtful (few can judge exactly when the ball left the hands) or trifling (the additional inches not affecting where the ball lands or which team will play the 50/50 ball at the landing zone).

When it is a foul, however, it is a direct free kick foul. All of the offenses by a goalkeeper for which the restart is an indirect free kick occur inside the penalty area. When the keeper is outside the penalty area, the keeper is treated like any other field player who deliberately handles the ball.

In my experience, in the few situations where the keeper carries the ball far outside the penalty area, an IFK is a common error.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Coach, deliberately handling the ball is DIRECT FREE KICK offense. Always. The keeper is merely exempted from this inside his penalty area. So, to answer your question, it CANNOT be an IFK restart. The only question the referee should ask himself is 'Was it trifling?' which most of the time we would view what you describe as.