Question Number: 23778

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/15/2010

RE: competive Under 15

Jeff of Burlington, Onatario Canada asks...

My daughter is a Keeper for her team. Her coach told her if she handled the ball with her hands outside of her 18 it would be an automatic red card. Ive never heard of this. I heard of the "auto red" for a hand ball by a non-keeper denying an obvious scoring opportunity, but a keeper outside of the 18 is a new one on me. I would have thought once the Keeper is out of the 18 they are subject to all the same rules as any other "out-player".

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Ah coaches. Sometimes a little knowledge is a wonderful thing; sometimes not.

It is not an automatic red card - there aren't any of those in the Laws of the Game. It would be a send-off if her handling denied the other team an obvious goal or goal-scoring opportunity - the same as if any of her teammates did it. The only difference is the teammates are subject to a penalty kick along with the potential send-off if they handle the ball inside the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If this is her coach's way of reminding her to watch her line so she doesn't leave the penalty area with the ball in her hands, it's a bit strident. You are quite correct that a keeper outside of her area is subject to the same restrictions as all other field players.

If what Coach meant was she would be treated like any other player if she handled the ball on purpose outside her safety zone of the penalty area, and that if she denied a goal or goal scoring opportunity with that handling, then the coach is not incorrect, although not wholly accurate.

A deliberate handling of the ball outside the penalty area by any player, keeper included, is punished with a DFK. If it was a tactical play to prevent an opponent from playing the ball, it will also carry a caution for unsporting behavior, or if it denies the goal/goalscoring opportunity - in the opinion of the referee (no automatics here) - then it is a DFK and a red card (sending off).

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jeff
There are many myths in the game and this is one of them. A goalkeeper is treated the same as any other outfield player when she leaves the penalty area. So the referee has to determine if deliberate handling by the goalkeeper outside the penalty area resulting in a direct free kick should be sanctioned further by a caution or a dismissal for unsporting behaviour or denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity. The Laws provide guidance on both through what is referred to as the 4Ds on denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity and where it is necessary to caution for deliberate handling. I can think of one situation for a goalkeeper where it is not even a caution when the ball is passed back by a team mate and the GK uses a hand to control the ball outside the PA. That would be a DFK only. Add in a forward close by and it probably gets elevated to a caution for USB but not a dismissal. If however the forward is in possession of the ball and tries to go around the GK who blatantly handles the ball which denies an obvious GSO then that is a dismissal.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 23808