Question Number: 26700

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/29/2012

RE: division 1 Adult

kathy of hawkes Bay, New Zealand asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26671

defending player in 18 yard box passes ball back to goalkeeper whom picks up ball.Attacking player is denied obvious goal scoring opportunity as was about to kick ball when it was picked up. What should the referee do. Give IDK or DK or a penalty on the spot.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kathy
The Laws of the Game see the offence of a goalkeeper touching the ball with her hands inside the penalty area when the ball has been deliberately kicked to her by a team mate as an indirect free kick only from where the ball was touched by the hands.
The goalkeeper in that situation has not denied an obvious goal scoring opportunity nor is the goalkeeper guilty of any misconduct. So there is no disciplinary sanction. It is an IDFK only.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It's just an indirect free kick. The Interpretations and Guidelines section of the Laws of the Game says, 'Inside his own penalty area, the goalkeeper cannot be guilty of a handling offence incurring a direct free kick or any misconduct related to handling the ball. He can, however, be guilty of several handling offences that incur an indirect free kick.' Note the words, *any* misconduct.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

This is an indirect free kick foul. It can never be a penalty kick because this requires that one of the ten listed direct free kick fouls.

Moreover, a keeper who touches the ball inside her own penalty area may never be sent off or shown the red card for such an infringement. Law 12 provides a special exemption to a keeper from being sent off for handling the ball.

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

See Question: 26745